3 NHL Teams That Could Give Jesse Puljujarvi A Shot

The Carolina Hurricanes did not decide to qualify Jesse Puljujarvi after a very underwhelming showing once he arrived after the trade deadline. Even with many injuries in the postseason, the team didn't like what they saw from him and have loaded up in free agency. The 25-year-old underwent double hip surgery and his NHL future might be in question, but potential is still there and could be looked at by some teams with space and opportunity.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are at the start of a rebuild that will only see more players depart sooner than later. With a younger team comes opportunity. Puljujarvi might not have the upside that many thought he did when drafted fourth overall, but he is still aggressive at forechecking and breaking up plays. The Flyers and John Tortorella have a similar style of play and there could be a nice fit. The head coach seems to get the most out of his players at both ends of the ice.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are also rebuilding and have room up front to slot Puljujarvi into their lineup. The team struggled to keep pucks out of the net and not to score. He just so happens to address that exact area for a team as he's struggled to put up points over the past year and a half, but has a positive impact on a team on the defensive side of the puck. It's worth taking a look at to see if they can turn the former Oiler into a weapon.

Anaheim Ducks

To give all of the Anaheim Ducks' recent first round picks some more time to develop and experience a winning culture in the AHL, the team can add some forward depth in Puljujarvi. If the Ducks are once again going to be sitting near the bottom of the standings, you can expect they will be moving some players during the season to contenders. While I would only expect him to slot into the fourth line in a more defensive/physical role, he could be a safety net for the team at a low cost.