The sun is just rising and we’ve already got traction on the Volkov and a pick to the Edmonton Oilers for Jesse Puljujarvi comment Elliotte Friedman made on the latest 31 Thoughts podcast.
I’ll keep this one short. It would be a massive mistake for Holland to move Puljujarvi for a 22-year-old who is trending to be a bottom-6 forward with a dusting of offense to his game.
Puljujarvi put up better numbers in the AHL (5th highest PPG for an 18-year-old player in AHL history) as an 18-year-old than Volkov did as a 21-year-old. Can we expect the Tampa Bay prospect to continue shooting at a 20% rate? Also, one has to ask, if Volkov or Julien Gauthier were playing for a club in the SM Liiga, would they be averaging five or six shots a night? Dominating possession as well as zone entries? I don’t think they would, to be honest.
Just getting rid of a player because he wants to go doesn’t sound like Holland’s M.O. and for 10 cents on the dollar sounds even less like the multiple Stanley Cup-winning GM.
I’ll throw one more thing out there, would you trade Tyler Benson for Julien Gauthier or Alexander Volkov today? No? Then why would you accept those returns for Puljujarvi? Pro-rate the Finn’s AHL season last year and it comes out looking pretty similar to what Benson accrued.
The best thing that Mr. Holland can do is let Jesse play for as long as possible over in Finland and get his confidence up. That’ll also allow Puljujarvi to stay in game shape while the Oilers find the correct return. What’s the worst that can happen? They don’t trade Puljujarvi? Oh damn! I guess they’ll have to revisit things in the summer. But what’s the best thing that could happen?
- They might get a better return on a trade…
- Connor and Leon might change their minds and actually reach out to Jesse and offer the olive branch. No doubt Edmonton could use Pulju’s skillset on their right-wing and even if those two won’t play with him, by the sounds of it, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wouldn’t mind at all.
I’m only one guy with an opinion, but based on what I’m seeing from Puljujarvi in those Champions Hockey League games so far, he’s back, he’s healthy, and he’s motivated. Given the right scenario, he’s at least a 30pt winger in the NHL right now and that’s not something I can say for Julien Gauthier or Alexander Volkov.
Game two between the Oilers rookies and the Flames rookies goes tonight in Calgary at 7pm I believe. I’ll be watching to see if Benson and Marody bounce back and also to see how Olivier Rodrigue does. Go Oilers Go!
