Last season started Jesse Puljujärvi almost perfectly. Coming into Christmas 2021, the striker from Oulu had recorded impressive performances of 10+13=23 in 28 matches. Puljujärvi, who was looking for a fast pace for his NHL career, was found in the league’s point exchange at the 58th place before Christmas. He was just one point behind the league’s true superstars Patrick Kane and Nathan MacKinnon.
The long-stalled NHL career was finally on track.
At the same time, drugs in Edmonton began to grow. Named Bison Man, Puljujärvi became a favorite of the home crowd. Edmonton’s other players also had their mouths in Mairea smiling when the fans chanted Puljujärvi’s name behind the press room window at the post-match press conferences.
However, Maine’s honor is fleeting.
After Christmas, Puljujärvi drifted into a dry season, which has not been broken to this day. The year 2022 has become nightmarish in every way for the likable striker. After one big step forward, Puljujärvi has taken at least two big steps back during the current calendar year.
First the powers disappeared, then the me-image
First, the effects disappeared from the game, after which Puljujärvi has completely lost himself as a player.
– Now I’m looking for what kind of player I would be in the end, when I don’t feel like I really fit into anything here, Puljujärvi, reached from Edmonton, says now to Urheilu.
The puck side of Puljujärvi’s game has collapsed badly in the last year. During 2022, Puljujärvi has scored only 5 hits in 63 matches, and there are only 19 points. The performance is weak, considering how much the Finn has played as a superstar Connor McDavid’s alongside.
At the same time, confidence in coaching has been on the decline. Edmonton gave the previous head coach in early February For Dave Tippett shoes and hired a farm team pilot instead by Jay Woodcroft. During Woodcroft’s tenure, Puljujärvi’s ice time per game has decreased by two and a half minutes, and the superiority responsibility by a minute. When last year Pulju started the game 60% from the offensive zone, now the number is 50.
On the other hand, Puljujärvi has been able to play a lot alongside McDavid until these days.
– That result should come with him by his side. I’ve thought about it a lot, why the effects are not coming now. It used to happen and now I’m older, more experienced and certainly a better player than I was then. Many have been allowed to play in it, but maybe I just don’t have enough for that role, Puljujärvi shakes.
It goes without saying that the situation is difficult and frustrating for Puljujärvi. At the same time, Puljujärvi is in the media almost every day – and not in a positive way. Puljujärvi assures that he does not take the media’s criticism personally, but at the same time, the final breaking of the tendon is starting to be heard from the speech.
The pain stems from the fact that Puljujärvi doesn’t seem to know what to do to solve the situation right now. Six years ago, the winger, who was reserved for the NHL specifically as a player of the profit unit, still thirsts to be a solver, but still plays more like a three-chain rougher.
– Now I’ve started to tackle. I’m the strongest tackler in the team, which is also something positive.
– Of course, I still want that role of decision-maker. That’s the kind of player I want to be, but now it seems that I’m not cut out for that role in the NHL. Maybe it’s in another series, Puljujärvi whips himself.
Puljujärvi has really started to struggle. Last season, Puljujärvi tackled 4.6 times per hour played, now 9.9 times. The change is in every way dramatic and confusing, reflecting the identity crisis in the midst of which Puljujärvi operates. However, the unfortunate fact is that right now there isn’t much more to Puljujärvi’s game than tackles.
In fact, Puljujärvi has lost not only the power, but also its five-on-five play that worked well last season. The big winger tries hard, but the focus is badly lost. The best blade has disappeared from basic gaming.
Puljujärvi, who got his puck upbringing in Kärpi, is one of the weakest players on his team with five against five. For example, when the Finn is on the ice, the Oilers have lost their games 5 to 5, 7-19. Lukema is the team’s weakest forward. The most significant attention is related to how Puljujärvi’s developed statistics of five against five have collapsed in a year.
When Puljujärvi plays next to superstars, playing has become scary and crowded during the dry season. Puljujärvi wants a lot and seems to try too hard to please Connor McDavid. Relaxation and spinal conditioning have disappeared from gaming. Falling to the lower chains in the middle of matches increases pain and suffering, because this player feels that he is a player of the profit unit.
– Twenty games have been played here and there is one goal. It’s sad, and I’ve thought about how to get them, where should I look for places differently, should I shoot more. It’s difficult with this now, and there’s also the danger that you’re already thinking too much about these things.
At least in terms of shooting, Puljujärvi is on track. Last season, the winger shot more than nine times per hour he played, now only six. On the other hand, this has not even reached the goal posts like last season. Per hour played, Puljujärvi has recorded around two less dangerous goal chances this season than a year ago.
– This is a time to apply. Sometimes there are places and it doesn’t go, and then there are games when there aren’t even places. Making a result in the NHL is difficult. When it comes to playing with McDavid, the game is tough and classy and it’s hard to get involved. It must be damn good to be able to play in it, win battles and make more games.
Kilometers full in Edmonton?
All the dross that has managed to accumulate between the club and the Finn, at least during the colorful six-year struggle together, has its own chapter in the story of Puljujärvi. The beginning was difficult, but after the fly visit, the return to Edmonton was promising. However, after last spring and this autumn, the stalemate is tighter than ever before.
At the same time, various reports directly from the skull place tell about the reluctance of the star players to play with Puljujärvi. It’s easy to believe these reports just by reading body language. There doesn’t seem to be the chemistry between McDavid and Puljujärvi that would be required to find a joint game.
This is also known at the club’s office, and in the summer Puljujärvi was for sale, but the low resale value does not make it easy to trade players. Edmonton would certainly pull the trigger on a player trade right away, but Puljujärvi, who has lost his game, is not talking in the player market right now with his three million contract.
However, a new start in another club could trigger the pressure cooker.
– I can’t say anything about this now, Puljujärvi dodges.
So Puljujärvi continues to do his daily work in Edmonton.
– This is how it is now. I just try to push hard and it will bring what it brings.