Jesse Puljujärvi
Finnish winger drafted fourth overall in 2016.
Jesse Puljujärvi (born 7 May 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). Once considered a top prospect, he was selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL entry draft.
Puljujärvi was born in Älvkarleby, Sweden, and moved to Tornio, Finland, at age four, where he started playing hockey and bandy at Tornio IHC. At 13, he moved alone to Oulu to play for Kärpät. In the 2011–12 season, he put up 15 goals and 41 points in 30 U16 games. The next season, he moved up to U18 and scored 51 points, earning the Heino Pulli award as U18 rookie of the year. He also played for the U16 team that won the Finnish Championship.
In 2013–14, he mostly played for Kärpät’s U20 team. A femur fracture sidelined him for two months, but he still managed 23 points in 18 regular-season games at age 15. He scored seven goals in 12 playoff games, and Kärpät won U20 silver.
Puljujärvi signed a three-year Liiga contract with Kärpät in May 2014. He made his professional debut in a Champions Hockey League game on 5 September 2014 against Kölner Haie, scoring in the shootout. His Liiga debut came on 10 September against Tappara, making him the youngest player in Kärpät history at 16 years, four months, and three days. He recorded an assist in that game, becoming the youngest player to earn a point for the club. He scored his first goal on 17 September against Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho, becoming the fourth-youngest scorer in Liiga history. In his rookie season, he had four goals and 11 points in 21 regular-season games, and Kärpät won the Finnish Championship. He also played on loan with Kajaanin Hokki in Mestis, winning a bronze medal. In 2015, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod selected him 44th overall in the KHL Junior Draft.
In the 2015–16 season, his first full Liiga campaign, Puljujärvi scored 13 goals and 28 points in 50 regular-season games, plus four goals and nine points in ten playoff games, earning a Liiga bronze. He also played 13 CHL games with two assists as Kärpät took CHL silver. In January 2016, NHL Central Scouting ranked him second among European skaters, behind only Auston Matthews. By April, he was ranked third, behind Matthews and Patrik Laine.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1998-05-07
- Birth Place
- Älvkarleby, Sweden
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 4
- Weight Lb
- 216
- Position
- Winger
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NL
- Team
- Genève-Servette HC
- Prospect League
- AHL
- Former Teams
- Oulun Kärpät / Edmonton Oilers / Carolina Hurricanes / Pittsburgh Penguins / Florida Panthers
- Ntl Team
- FIN
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Puljujärvi was born in Älvkarleby, Sweden, and moved to Tornio, Finland at age four, where he began playing ice hockey and bandy. He moved to Oulu alone at 13 to play for Kärpät. In his junior career, he won the Heino Pulli award as U18 rookie of the year and later a U20 junior championship silver medal. He made his professional debut with Oulun Kärpät in the Liiga at age 16, becoming the youngest player in team history and the fourth youngest scorer in Liiga history. He won a Finnish Championship with Kärpät in his rookie season and later a Liiga bronze.
Reader's Guide
Puljujärvi's NHL career began with high expectations after being selected fourth overall in 2016. He made his debut with the Edmonton Oilers on 12 October 2016, scoring the opening goal of his NHL career. Over parts of three seasons with the Oilers, he recorded 17 goals and 37 points in 139 games before a hip injury ended his 2018–19 season. He returned to Kärpät for the 2019–20 season, leading the team in points and goals, and was named alternate captain for 2020–21. He re-signed with the Oilers in October 2020 and later signed a one-year, $3 million contract extension in July 2022. On 28 February 2023, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Patrik Puistola, recording two points in 17 games. He later signed a professional tryout with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2023–24 season.
Did You Know?
- Puljujärvi was the first NHL player to wear sweater number 98 in a regular season game since Brian Lawton in 1985.
- He scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on 12 October 2016 against the Calgary Flames.
- He won the President's trophy of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association in May 2016.
- He was drafted 44th overall by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the 2015 KHL Junior Draft.
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