Oilers Impressed By New Look Jesse Puljujarvi

Jesse Puljujarvi is back for his second go-around with the Edmonton Oilers and at just 22-years-old he's hoping this is the beginning of a long career with the Oilers. Puljujarvi signed a two-year deal after heading back to Finland and with a new season on the horizon, he's decided to make a change into some fresh threads. Puljujarvi will be switching from #98 to #13 this season, and he's hoping it will somehow spark some more production.

"He's a different person than he was before here, from everything that I hear, so he might as well start with a new number."

Jesse Puljujarvi will start his second #Oilers stint with fresh digits on his back. https://t.co/bD5VYZDEUO

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2021

While all accounts out of training camp are how much stronger, faster and more agile Puljujarvi is becoming, one of the biggest things is he seems happy. Always smiling and getting along with his teammates which is something the management team loves to see after their 'bad breakup' after his first couple years. The former top-5 pick was rushed into the league and not very often does a player get a second chance and new beginnings with the team that drafted him, but for Puljujarvi, that's certainly the case.

Oilers head coach Dave Tippet spoke with the media regarding Puljujarvi's number change and had this to say on the matter: 

Players have different thoughts on those things. I don't mind that he changed the number. I think it's good that he's got a fresh start. I think it's a good thing for him. He's a different person than he was before here, from everything that I hear, so he might as well start with a new number. I got no issue with it at all.

Puljujarvi is hoping going down in jersey numbers means going up on the depth chart.

Photo credit: Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire