Olli Jokinen claims this NHLer reminds him of himself and still thinks he'll be a star
It's safe to say that things have not worked out the Edmonton Oilers would have hoped with Jesse Puljujarvi. The fourth overall pick back in 2016 has not met expectations and it would seem if the Oilers can't trade him this year, they will not pick up his rights for a new contract next year.
Olli Jokinen, an NHL veteran of over twelve hundred games, thinks Puljujarvi will come through even if it's not with the Oilers. Jokinen compared his playing career to Puljujarvi. Trying to find his way in the league took some time, and for Jokinen a few different teams before he finally felt comfortable. Jokinen was even told that he'd never last in the NHL, but he proved those coaches wrong.
Jokinen went on to have a long and productive NHL career, so he knows what he's talking about. Jokinen finished his playing career with over three hundred goals and seven hundred fifty career points.
In Puljujarvi's case perhaps a change of scenery would jump start his career. For whatever reason things in Edmonton just haven't worked out. Perhaps it was the coaching, or he didn't gel with other players, he's had a tough time adjusting to North America, the Edmonton media have been all over him, or he's still trying to adjust to the best hockey league in the world.
Jokinen's comments have optimism about Puljujarvi. We'll see if he can turn it around.
