Jesse Puljujarvi Signs New Deal After Being Terminated By the Pittsburgh Penguins
Jesse Puljujarvi has been given several chances in the NHL thus far, and now, he's got another opportunity to prove he can make it at the top level after signing a PTO in the AHL on Monday.
After getting several chances in Pittsburgh, the Penguins officially terminated the deal of Jesse Puljujarvi on Sunday, making him a free agent once more and free to sign with any team in the league.
While many believed he'd already passed over all his opportunities at the top level, he's now been given another shot, as it has been announced he is signing a PTO with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
After reports, the team then confirmed that the former No. 4 overall draft pick was getting his shot with the team, who are the AHL affiliate of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
In four AHL games this season, Puljujarvi has 1 goals and 3 points, but at the NHL level he's struggled to step it up, putting together just 9 points in 26 games despite having just a -1 differential on a very poor team.
While many believe his opportunities were all but gone, Puljujarvi is now just one step away from joining a team that's been to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, with this being the best opportunity yet for him to show what he can do in a high leverage situation.
At 26-years of age with free agency ahead of him this summer, if Puljujarvi wants to prove he belongs in North America, he'll find no better chance than this, and given the potential, if that can all be unlocked here, we could be looking at a masterstroke move from the Panthers as they look to make it back-to-back Cup wins.
