Kyle Dubas Surprisingly Places Former Top 5 Pick on Waivers
The Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas surprisingly placed the former top-5 pick Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers.
In breaking news, renowned insider Elliotte Friedman announced on X that the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed the forward Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers.
Here's what he posted on X:
Puljujarvi's NHL journey hasn't been an easy one so far. After being drafted 4th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016, he struggled to establish himself as a true full-time NHLer.
He played 377 regular season games, as well as 27 playoff games, for the Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
This season, with the Penguins, he was limited to 21 games, often healthy-scratched by head coach Mike Sullivan. He did manage to score eight points, including three goals, in those games.
His last game was on December 7th, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on the third line, alongside Michael Bunting and Blake Lizotte, spending over 11 minutes on the ice.
Currently signed to a two-year, $800k contract with the Penguins, it'll be interesting to see if a team claims him considering his cap-friendly salary.
He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, making him a potentially interesting target for teams looking to make cheap additions to their roster.
Earlier in his career, the forward spent a few years in Europe, playing for the Switzerland League. He could be tempted to make a return to Europe if things don't work out for him next summer.
This seems like a real shame, as he truly looked focused on getting better.
He was even spotted working overtime in practice alongside team captain Sidney Crosby earlier this month:
His fate will be revealed in 24 hours, but with all the changes in Pittsburgh, it's likely that Kyle Dubas already attempted to trade him but couldn't finalize a deal. This suggests he might clear waivers and join the AHL.
