The Pittsburgh Penguins American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced Thursday that they have signed Finnish forward Jesse Puljujarvi to a professional tryout agreement.
Last month, Pittsburgh announced that Puljujarvi had joined the club on a PTO on Dec. 10, 2023.
The 25-year-old spent the 2022-23 regular season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes. While in Edmonton, Puljujarvi notched five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 58 games before being traded to the Hurricanes for forward Patrik Puistola. Puljujarvi finished the season with two assists in 17 games as a member of the Hurricanes.
Puljujarvi was initially selected No. 4 overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Oilers. He made his NHL debut during the 2016-17 campaign and recorded eight points in 28 games before being sent down to the Oilers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, where he tallied 28 points in 39 games. He found a more consistent role in the lineup the following season.
The 6-foot-4 winger spent the 2019-20 season back home in his native country of Finland where he suited up for Karpat and registered 24 goals and 53 points in 56 games. He returned to the NHL, to the Oilers, during the 2021-22 season and finished with a career-high 15 goals and 25 points in 55 games. Puljujarvi has registered 114 points in 334 regular season games with the Oilers and Hurricanes.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next game is on Friday, Jan. 5, against the Springfield Thunderbirds. They host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday, Jan. 6. The baby Penguins currently sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 16-12-3 record to go with 35 points and tied with the Charlotte Checkers.
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