Jesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.
There are still one or two AHL games to go. After that, according to Swiss media outlet Blick, his next stop will be Switzerland. The Blickarticle is behind a paywall, but Finnish newspaper Helsing Sanomathas reported some of its contents, and states that that Puljujärvi has already signed a contract with a Swiss club for next season.
While his exact destination is less clear, the article states that it’s rumored to be HC Lugano. Lugano, which has already signed Connor Carrick and Rasmus Kupari this off-season, is rebuilding its roster after a disappointing season.
When Puljujärvi was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins in February to terminate his contract “by mutual agreement” ahead of the international transfer deadline, it was widely expected that he’d end up in Europe. Switzerland was one of his rumored destinations at that time, as was Kärpät Oulu, his hometown club in Finland. However, he surprisingly signed with the Florida Panthers instead.
Jesse Puljujarvi Waived By Penguins – Headed Back To Finland? The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers on Saturday for the purposes of terminating his contract, according to multiple sources.
Puljujärvi only played 31 NHL games this season – 26 with Pittsburgh and five with Florida, scoring four goals and adding six assists. He had 26 points in 26 AHL regular-season games split between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Charlotte, and has 11 points in 17 playoff games through Sunday.
Puljujärvi was chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has 128 points in 387 career NHL regular-season games, and six points in 27 playoff games.
In June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery and missed half of the following season.
Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jesse Puljujärvi: “It’s been a long process, I’m really happy to be here”The last couple of seasons have been an ordeal for Jesse Puljujärvi. He split a rather unproductive 2022-23 campaign between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes, during which he played in constant pain. Then in June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery. He didn’t return to the ice until January and, after a half-season split between the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the NHL, he’s now playing in his second IIHF World Championship for Finland, and first since 2017.