Kyle Dubas Shockingly Terminates the Contract of Former Fourth Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas terminated the contract of former 4th overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi today.
When Jesse Puljujarvi was drafted 4th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016, he was expected to become a top player in the NHL.
Unfortunately, things just never worked out that way for him.
After 317 career games with the Oilers, the Finish forward was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes with hopes of revitalizing his career.
After that didn't work out either, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the 2023-24 season.
That year he put up just 4 points in 22 games but Kyle Dubas was prepared to give him another chance.
After just 3 goals and 9 points in 26 games this season, it appears as though that chance is up.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed this afternoon that the team and player have mutually agreed to have his contract terminated.
Apparently, Dubas seems to believe that Puljujarvi has no trade value as he could have been a part of the fire sale he is reportedly planning for the trade deadline.
It has certainly been a long fall from grace for the former 4th overall pick, now not worthy of even a seventh-round pick in a trade.
Puljujarvi does have some company on the waiver wire today as the Utah HC also placed Vladislav Kolyachonok on waivers for the purpose of demoting him to the AHL.
Kolyachonok, a former 2nd round pick, has appeared in 62 career NHL contests and has 4 goals and 12 points to show for it.
The 23-year-old defenseman still has a lot of potential though and in fact has already set a career high with 5 points in 23 games this season.
As such, his future in the NHL is not certain, but he will likely get more opportunities, which may not be the case for Jesse Puljujarvi.
