Jesse Puljujarvi signed in Finland today, it’s one of those deals that (like Stanfield’s long underwear) has an escape hatch that allows him to sign in the NHL until December 1.
I think this is an attractive situation for both player and team. JP can settle in and play a season where he’s comfortable, and the Oilers aren’t forced into a trade that returns 10 cents on the dollar. There are roster spots where the young Finn scored enough to stay in the lineup but there’s something about that situation that lacked sustain. Perhaps Dave Tippett could have found a way, perhaps he will at another time.
THE ATHLETIC!
The Athletic Edmonton features a fabulous cluster of stories (some linked below, some on the site). Great perspective from a ridiculous group of writers and analysts. Proud to be part of the group, here’s an incredible Offer!
- **New Lowetide: The 2019-20 Oilers and value contracts: A period of transition
- **New Corey Pronman: Oilers No. 9 farm system.
- **New Jonathan Willis: Jesse Puljujarvi signs one-year deal in Finland, dashing hopes he would return to the Oilers
- Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft joins Claude Julien and Todd Nelson as key coaches in Oilers prospect development
- Lowetide: Is Riley Sheahan an ideal fit for the Oilers as their No. 3 centre?
- Lowetide: Oilers coach Dave Tippett might have to take drastic action in order to find a second outscoring line in 2019-20
- Lowetide: Oilers end summer still shy on first-shot scoring wingers
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid and optimal line chemistry: The Oilers need to abandon enforcer fixation and add a skill winger
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi’s biggest hurdles: Bad timing and the indifference of the Oilers.
- Lowetide: Projecting the Oilers 2019-20 Opening Night Lineup
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Dave Tippett on rounding out his coaching staff, fixing Oilers’ special teams and using Connor McDavid
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: What the 2021-22 Oilers might look like after their steady build toward contender status
- Lowetide: Joel Persson is ideally situated to win an opening night roster spot with the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Projecting the Oilers’ opening night lineup, line combinations and more.
- Lowetide: Oilers’ acquisition of James Neal could add badly needed scoring to the top two lines.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Ken Holland puts his stamp on the Oilers with first big move in Lucic-Neal trade
- Jonathan Willis: Ken Holland ends an ugly situation for the Oilers by trading Milan Lucic for James Neal
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects summer 2019.
CURRENT 50-MAN (47)
There are two slides (Broberg and Rodrigue) and RFA Jesse Puljujarvi, meaning the team has three spots open if nothing changes. I think we’ll see at least one acquisition before or during training camp.
This is a satisfactory outcome. Maybe Holland can fly over around Christmas and talk to the young man, start to build a bridge. I know many of you are down on Puljujarvi but for me there’s no good reason to trade him at this time.
Puljujarvi struggled in many areas a year ago but he has one specific spot where he can thrive. Here, again, are the five-on-five per 60 scoring numbers by Edmonton’s wingers with McDavid in 2018-19:
Leon Draisaitl 3.35 (805 minutes)
Drake Caggiula 2.54 (141 minutes)
Zack Kassian 1.96 (428 minutes)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1.91 (376 minutes)
Milan Lucic 1.83 (98 minutes)
Jesse Puljujarvi 1.80 (67 minutes)
Ty Rattie 1.72 (244 minutes)
Alex Chiasson 1.48 (284 minutes)
Jujhar Khaira 0.93 (64 minutes)
Kailer Yamamoto 0.00 (84 minutes)
For his brief career so far, JP scores 2.06 per 60 at five-on-five when playing with Connor McDavid, and the duo drills opponents at 55 percent Corsi for five-on-five. I don’t know why the math loves their chemistry while there was apparently none in real life, but it is clear the young Finn wasn’t going to be gifted the world’s best center and we are here.
So long and thanks for all the fish
I sincerely hope Jesse Puljujarvi finds his way, first in Finland and then in the NHL. He is looking for his own place in the sun, you can’t blame a man for being restless to find home. Sail on, Kajaanin Hokki, you came to us in a time of great confusion. Don’t you dare let this experience define you. Keep smiling, big man. We won’t forget you.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, a whole lotta shakin’ going on, TSN1260. The Puljujarvi news will dominate the conversation, with Jonathan Willis from The Athletic chiming in on the breaking news. Andrew Peard will also be around to talk Edmonton Oil Kings as we get ready for another season. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
AMEN. nuff said. I hope he makes it back in fine form where ever but chances are that he is just not at that level are high.
Thank You VERY much!!
Thank You for all this work.
Well reasoned and important perspective.
I’d like to have a “solid NHL goaltender” to go along with the “solid NHL coach”.
Perhaps we have one, however, last season provided zero assurances on this.
More bets.
We wait.
Stunningly ironic.
Awesome thanks for this. Can’t wait to be 24 points over again.
He’s also apparently recognized that both goalies can really only start 35-40 games each this season (his own words). I think he has a general pre-plan for the team which will be tweaked during and post-camp.
At even strength a year ago, Edmonton posted 172-202 (-30) at even strength via hockey-reference. Lots of smart people (first I saw was Woodguy but there may have been others) have said resting Koskinen would likely have improved his performance. I’m not as down on Edmonton’s goaltending as most, partly because 271 GA is a big number and Dave Tippett is a solid NHL coach. We wait.
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One of the positives here, if I could call it that, is that Willis’s conclusion the Oilers May be starting 20-25 goals behind the 8 ball… well that’s the status quote. There’s nowhere to go but up (not actually true). But I do think this is a likely area of growth/improvement vs 18-19, even if it never reaches average.
It’s more likely IMO that the goaltending is better this season vs last than that it’s worse.
Thanks!
Could it be instead that many of players listed as C on NST are actually playing as wingers?
Total counts makes sense but I was also interested seeing who’s performing better than they seem.
Good to hear you acknowledge and are thinking about puck distributors. The flip side of the Oilers having guys who’ve scored goals at solid rates is that many of the same players have not picked up so many assists. Chiasson, Neal, Granlund and Archibald have all picked up assists at 4th line rates for instance (in the last 3 years sample, not splitting up by position). Do you think that’s cause for concern? I’d expect it’s not ideal myself.
I guess even more than with goal scoring the centers should be getting more touches and more assists than the wingers (all the guys I listed are wingers).
Don’t know if anyone got back to you, but this might help.
from https://www.championshockeyleague.com/en/fans/where-to-watch
“Champions Hockey League games can be watched on TV or digital platforms in many countries. In addition to that, we offer free livestreaming on our website and app for territories and games where there is no geoblocking in effect.”
“Canada TSN CHL Games available on TSN and TSN GO
All games not Live on TV/Online are available via the CHL Website/App”
“USA and its territories NHL Network CHL Games available on NHL Network
All games not Live on TV are available via the CHL Website/App”
Well yeah, that’s entirely different from what I’ve been talking about. So yes, I totally agree the bar is a ton higher if we’re looking at recouping value on Puljujarvi.
I’m not sure though what Hepioniemi has to do with anything. He had a great draft +2 year. He’s a waif, and maybe he outperoforms his draft projections. Aho was similar, 2nd round pick who killed it after being drafted. Very little relevance to Puljujarvi here IMO.
And yes, the worst case here is quite bad.
Well done. I noticed. He sure is looking like a genius now isn’t he. Well, aside from his team missing the playoffs for the next half decade.
Lighten up, man. It’s the summer slow season.
Since the Hall draft for me as well till the 16-17 playoffs but NOT since then. A disgraceful tire fire since then.
You sure can, dude.
Thought it was here but maybe Twitter (that you posted here). Anyways, Twitter and here are my only vices so those are the only options.
Holland was brought in to build a Stanley Cup contender over the next few years – that’s been clear from his verbal, his actions and his non-actions.
To me next season is wide open. Nobody is stacked because of hot ELCs that I can think of. Incumbents are old, unbalanced, or out of control.
Throw it sisters and brothers!
A lot of whiners lately.
So if the Oilers are so awful and doomed to failure, put up your choices for teams that are going to get it done. That are built so much better, in a capped league, with an expansion draft ready to steal.
Complaining gets boring fast. Put your money where your mouth is, please.
I won’t be awful later, but will point it out if I remember or care then. Put up or shut up so to speak.
Stockholm oops I mean Helsinki Syndrome.
Huh? The bright shiny wrapping paper and the glossy ribbon has been removed from the package. All the GM’s know what is inside, not just the guy from Columbus (got that right this time just for you Juice).
#TeamOil #SuckItPoolAndTheAgentYouRodeInOn
That’s the high bar once teams get there rosters in order Jesse plus or a asset will get us a 3C that can play 2C in a pinch PK and win faceoffs. Holland and Tippett weren’t brought in for a development year with McDavid and Leon’s clock ticking they were brought in to make the playoffs without harming the future.
Probably lol.
I’m not trying to establish an LT RE here.
I’m talking about what needs to happen for Holland to get a trade offer he thinks is reasonable, and what Pujo himself should have as a goal, if he’s claiming to be a Top 6 winger right now.
According to Spector today, he believes Holland is looking for a 2nd rounder and a prospect.
Just so happens that a 2nd round 19 yo, who has yet to establish himself as a top 6 talent, played for Karpat last year and put up .92 ppg. That’s my line in the sand for a player who has basically said to the org “I’ll show you I’m a top 6er” and also my line in the sand for Holland getting his ask.
Now one of the things Pujo will want to prove is that he is one motivated fella. And playing in Finland removes all excuses… language, ice size, ice time etc.
Thus I don’t think my line in the sand is “unreasonable” lol.
One would hope that under ideal circumstances we see a step forward from even his year one performance.
The worst case scenarios are, of course:
1. He gets injured
2. His regression continues or flatlines
oh, and every other GM in the NHL. And pretty much everyone else except Jesse and his agent, both of whom probably think his shit smells like roses.
Pretty sure Jesse is staying in Europe for a very long time. A third or forth, which is probably the best you can expect, is like pocket change to the Oil. They drop that on the ground all the time (often on a goalie lottery ticket) without even thinking to pick it up.
Gag me with a spoon!
Fans.
Well, I guess no one is going to acquire him then.
I think we can all agree that policing the forum and policing who/what people cheer for is the most fun, liberating and respectable hobby of them all.
Cheering for the prospects has been my primary pursuit since 2006. It is fun.
I’d indeed forgotten that – thanks! Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod has the rights, I think.
“hot shirt off pics”? Twitter?
Can’t I cheer for both?
There certainly hasn’t been much support for Puljujarvi from his teammates but I do believe it was reported that McDavid contacted him when this all first came out.
Again, not much, but the captain did make a call.
Willis knocks it out the park in a highly depressing read.
https://theathletic.com/1164101/2019/08/27/willis-can-mikko-koskinen-be-a-quality-starter-for-oilers-in-2019-20/
https://theathletic.com/1060429/2019/07/04/how-often-do-goalies-like-the-oilers-mike-smith-rebound/
I might start chasing down info on the 2020 draft at the start of the season.
Wow, arrogant AND condescending. Good job.
I can see Holland pumping up Neal – he is the one Holland traded for after all.
But Jesse? Holland came into a position where JP and his agent had seemingly made up their minds already. Holland has said he would welcome him back so there’s no need to gush over a player that doesn’t want to be there. Gushing to the media doesn’t increase JP’s value either so there’s no real point. And no matter the spin the Oilers put on the situation, their spin isn’t more damaging than the verbal coming from JP and his agent.
Must be so liberating to have so much fun following a team that has failed epically for so long. Especially for someone who has followed them for so long like you. I can tell you are in the same age range as me from your hot shirt off pics from the Far East last year and I can’t believe you can still cheer for prospects when we should be cheering for a repeat final appearance or something.
JP:
I break down the grouping by LW, C, RW.
Cause the HD area chart has higher success rate from a central shot than from the wings given equal distance.
Reflected in higher potential open space.
Their are more C in your groups.
That is why I look at top 62 LW, C, RW.
Some here have said they all get equal time Central HD area time.
That centers are just better goal scorers.
What a crock!
Their is a natural advantage to traditional structure.
So I showed top Evg total because it is a combination of evg/60 & EVTOI.
Plus it is clear you need distributors on every line.
Elite distributes can pass people open.
But most distributors are dependent on finish ability of shooters.
Top Evg total and top evg/60 players are good to have.
I am being evg centric cause they are finishers we want.
Looking at 17-18 & 18-19 their is a clear reduction in median save% from .918 to .912
Average for 2 years.
When you look at 1st line (1-31); 2Nd line (32-62); third line (63-93) based on minutes
You get all kinds of varied range per group 1.6 to .38 evg/60 for 2nd LW; 1.98 – .64 eva/60 1st RW
Looking at top 31, #32-62, #63-93 evg/60 & eva/60 for LW, C, RW from last 2 seasons.
LW:
Top 31 LW 1.48 – 1.00 evg/60; 1.93 – 1.18 eva/60
#32-62 LW .99 – .81 evg/60; 1.15 – 1.00 eva/60
#63 – 93 .81 – .65 evg/60; .99 – .87 eva/60
C:
Top 31 C 1.53 – 1.00 evg/60; 2.05 – 1.48 eva/60
#32 – 62 C .99 – .81 evg/60; 1.47 – 1.22 eva/60
#63 – 93 C .81 – .74 evg/69; 1.22 – 1.06 eva/60
RW:
Top 31 RW 1.6 – .91 evg/60; 1.98 – 1.18 eva/60
#32 – 62 RW .91 – .72 evg/60; 1.17 – .93 eva/60
#63 – 93 RW .71 – .49 evg/60; .93 – .72 eva/60
18-19
Mcdavid C 1.27 evg/60; 2.05 Eva/60
Draisaitl W 1.25 evg/60; 1.70 Eva/60
Gagner EDM RW .95 evg/60; .95 Eva/60
RNH C .92 evg/60; 1.01 Eva/60
Archibald RW .89 evg/60; .67 Eva/60
Kassian RW .79 evg/60; .62 Eva/60
Chaisson RW .78 evg/60; .48 Eva/60
Granlund LW .70 evg/60; .56 Eva/60
17-18
Neal 1.15 evg/60; .86 Eva/60
Jurco 1.02 evg/60; .68 Eva/60
Khaira .80 evg/60; . 64 Eva/60
16-17
Granlund .98 evg/60; .55 Eva/60
Gagner .66 evg/60; 1.45 Eva/60
Mcd, Drai, Gagner, RNH show as puck distributors.
Ranges in 38+gm (official) reg seasons
1C Mcdavid 2.05 to 1.85 eva/60
2C RNH 1.2 – .92 eva/60
3C Gagner 1.45 – .81 eva/60
3C Draisaitl 1.94 – 1.46 eva/60
3C Khaira 18-19 1.27 eva/60
5 potential pass distribution centers.
Gagner needing more of a bench change with pocession push.
Given the scoring leaders over the last number of years in the league and their general ages, I don’t think that’s reasonable for this 21 year old.
Sure, if he was trending to reach his draft day potential, I would expect him to tear up the league but we aren’t there right now.
His trade value isn’t worth a recent second rounder with good arrows and I wouldn’t expect him to perform materially better than that player – not yet
My expectation is to be very good offensive player who produces solid to very good numbers and also has a plus 2-way game – that’s his game.
Wow, I was polite and respectful in my post – its unfortunate the same was returned.
I thought that we generally talk about somewhat reasonable possibilities in this community and the conversation was a real one regarding what would help increase his value and should be expected.
I want to see Tyler Benson dominate the NHL this year and score 90 points – just as unreasonable to expect/hope for in my mind.
Oh well.
I see nothing that indicates that Holland is taking direction from anyone. Ensuring the trade is right for the team and not making a trade for the sake of it is right up his ally. Feel free to explain.
Not sure why Holland should talk about any fails of old management – he was clear at the beginning that Jesse would be welcomed back and has never stated otherwise as Jesse and his agent kept putting out verbals. He was express about mending relationships with players in Detroit.
This is a just turned 21 kid who has underperformed. The organization has culpability in that but the player has much as well – and his agent.
100% trade him when a satisfactory deal comes along. The Oilers hold his rights – that is how professional sports works – they don’t owe him anything – they’ve offered him a contract at almost $1M – he can still take it.
Are we talking about reasonable? Or are we talking about improving his trade value? Is expecting him to improve his trade value reasonable?
0.75 PPG is about 22 NHL points. That’s what he scored 2 years ago and well ahead of this past seasons pace. Isn’t 0.75PPG actually very reasonable?
Anyway, it seems clear our disconnect has largely been about answering different questions. Earlier I had 0.8-0.9PPG in my head as the range that 1) was reasonable and 2) shouldn’t be disappointing. 0.9 was a Liiga top 10 scorer and 0.8 a top 20. Any less I’d be some degree of disappointed. More I’d be pleased. Maybe our respective expectations here aren’t so far off.
Great tip – will have to listen tomorrow night when clients are only partially demanding – still haven’t had a chance to read his piece.
Oh, I guess that’s right. Didn’t think about that.
Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod offered him a contract, so they’re likely the team that has his rights, then.
By the way, I think their jerseys are bad-ass. A great color combo and a cool red stag as a logo! They might be my new favourite KHL team (although Jokerit is up there).
Recall, he wasn’t just free to sign anywhere – I can’t remember which team but one of the KHL teams holds his rights.
Loving the fact that Holland isn’t willing to trade without value coming back – Mattheson says he’s requiring a pick and a prospect – atta boy Ken.
DBRS is holding…..
Yeti,
Material Elvis,
– There is blame on both sides. GMs talk up players they like for a living
– If there is disagreement about the deployment development linemates minutes PP allowing for mistakes vs development I guess that’s the disconnect.
– We have so much albeit small sample and training camps that show pool in a very positive top6 play with skill winger. But as ricki amd others have shown other non elite players get far more time with the skill players over and over for years.
– The oil have concluded he’s not a top6 option. That’s their belief. Pool believes they are wrong.
– And I think he’s right. And even if he isn’t the Oil have decided for him. So it’s his career. The next contract depends on how he does. He’s not going to do well with the Oil.
– I am probably out to lunch. I am often. But I’m certain Pool is handling it correctly given the situation. As are the Oilers given they don’t rate him
Wanderers have been given a 14 day reprieve it appears. They’re my side, so this is fantastic news.