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5. This summer, in returning to Edmonton, Puljujarvi took ownership of some of his troubles here in the past. When he was still musing about returning to the Oilers, the player said from Finland: “I have grown and I see things a little differently. There’s now a different GM and head coach out there. Build a winning team in Edmonton. It may be possible that I will still be playing there.” This new-found maturity, along with the new support system that Lehto mentions, seems to be helping Puljujarvi get through the high level of adversity that NHL players regularly face.
6. For the Oilers, this is all good news, perhaps very good news, perhaps even utterly brilliant news. For a team to succeed it needs its first round picks to turn out so if players like Puljujarvi, Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway do so, just as we’ve seen in recent years with RNH, Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton will most definitely be in Stanley Cup contention for the next five or six years.
7. This summer I argued it would be a good idea to try Puljujarvi with McDavid based on their past success together. Glad to see that prediction is holding up OK. The exact prediction? “Has Puljujarvi earned it? He spent a year building back his game in Finland, where he put up good numbers. He’s off to a great start in the Finnish league this year. He’s a decent shooter and forechecker and strong skater, who also hustles on defence. He’s a strong passer. If he were to return, why not give him a run of games with McDavid? If in their first 400 minutes together they can replicate that 61.5% goals for, the pairing might just be considered a success this time.”
At the Cult of Hockey
LEAVINS: Game grades as Oilers thump Ottawa Senators again
STAPLES: Alex Chaisson clears waivers
McCURDY: Oilers flash past Sen’s 8-5
McCURDY: 10-game Segment CoH Player Grades
