Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi enters COVID-19 protocol

Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi was placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol ahead of Edmonton's game Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken, per a team tweet.

Puljujarvi joins notable absences Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Duncan Keith on the COVID list for Edmonton.

It’s especially of note as the Oilers have an incredibly compressed schedule before the holiday break. They have four games remaining, including Saturday night’s bout with Seattle. Their road trip takes them through the three California teams, playing three games in four nights from Dec. 20-23.

For Puljujarvi, it’s a tough break. The fourth overall pick in 2016 is finally enjoying what seems to be a serious breakout with 23 points in 28 games, already just two points behind his career-high of 25. He’s found a home playing alongside Connor McDavid, and his two-way game is quickly blossoming as he becomes a legitimate top-line threat.

Obviously, the concern now rests with the Oilers players who are on the wrong side of the border with the holidays approaching. Hopefully, there’s a way to get quarantined players at least back home for the short break in the schedule.