Jesse Puljujärvi Could Be On the Move From Penguins

Things have not quite gone as planned for Jesse Puljujärvi in Pittsburgh this season. He's served as a healthy scratch 14 times in the Penguins' last 15 games. In 21 games to begin the year, he registered just three goals and eight points in 21 games.

The Pens have now placed Puljujärvi on waivers, in an attempt to assign him to their AHL affiliate at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Penguins have placed Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers. pic.twitter.com/NQSBM93a4S
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 30, 2024

The former first-round pick (4th overall selection) of the Edmonton Oilers was a top prospect coming into the NHL after the 2016 Draft but has never lived up to that potential. Despite some flashes, he topped out with a 36-point season in Edmonton in 2021-22 that also featured a plus/minus rating of +22, while playing over 16 minutes a night.

But he struggled mightily the season after that and was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes. But after having major surgery on both hips in the summer of 2023, he simply hasn't been able to find his footing again in the NHL. After a long recovery, Puljujärvi received a two-year free agent deal worth $800K AAV from the Penguins in February of this year, but hasn't been able to earn himself much more than an average 10 minutes a night since then, when he has played.

But with all of that potential talent lying underneath the surface, a strong 6'4" build, good defensive play and an inexpensive contract for the rest of the season, it's certainly possible that some team will take a chance and claim the 25-year-old on waivers.