The season is barely underway, with all 31 teams hoping the problems of 2018-19 were addressed satisfactorily. At this point, significant moves are rare as clubs try to stay within reach of the top of the division or hang around the wild-card spots. It’s a case of outlasting opponents until someone falls away, and that process can take most or all of the season’s first half.
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For the Edmonton Oilers, who are faced with a major issue on defence due to the injury to Adam Larsson, the correct play is looking internally for a solution to the veteran’s absence. It’s simply too early for any team to cast about looking for a major piece — unless a team is willing to tear apart its group by sending away a foundational player. Big trades so soon after the start of a season are rare.
The early trade market, as it pertains to Edmonton, probably revolves around winger Jesse Puljujarvi. Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman’s most recent 31 Thoughts column offered a small update on the Finnish winger’s situation. It’s quiet. Interest from the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning was reported, but interest has subsided as teams wait for roster cracks and holes to form during the season.
Fans and observers monitor the NHL, looking for young players who are disappointing or veterans who are disenchanted with lesser roles. The storylines are beginning to form, and it isn’t too early to identify some areas that may be addressed as the season rolls along. Those problem areas within the other 30 teams may give us clues about Puljujarvi’s potential destination.
Success in Finland
Puljujarvi scored a power-play goal Saturday for Karpat, running his Liiga scoring totals to three goals and five assists in the first nine games. He played 18:01, third among forwards, with three shots and the winning goal. The big man is getting noticed by NHL teams, as reported recently by TSN’s Darren Dreger. The nature of the Liiga allows Puljujarvi more time to shoot compared with the NHL, but the numbers are quality and teams are always willing to take a chance on top-five selections.
Where could Puljujarvi fit?
The Anaheim Ducks have a new coach in Dallas Eakins and are off to a solid start. Nick Ritchie was a healthy scratch in one of the first two games, and that could represent a crack forming. Ritchie is under contract through the 2020-21 season, is on a reasonable deal and will be a restricted free agent when it ends. The potential power forward isn’t an ideal fit for Edmonton but could easily slide in as a third-line left wing. Ritchie doesn’t bring the kind of speed general manager Ken Holland has pursued since arriving, but Ritchie is an interesting player possibly shaking loose.
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The Hurricanes also remain linked to Puljujarvi. There may be an urge from Carolina in terms of getting Puljujarvi on a line with brilliant centre Sebastian Aho, as the two men have had substantial international success together. Carolina uses analytics to identify undervalued assets, and it’s likely that the price on Puljujarvi is reduced (compared with actual value). One of the names mentioned as a possible return was giant winger Julien Gauthier. He didn’t make the Hurricanes, so he returns for a third season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. He scored a goal on three shots in his first AHL game this season and followed it with another goal and five shots in the game Sunday. He brings much of what Edmonton might be looking for and is a story worth following.
The Blues remain the most likely destination for Puljujarvi. St. Louis dealt with the Oilers for Magnus Paajarvi and Nail Yakupov, and Puljujarvi’s potential and low cap number, once signed, undoubtedly hold a lot of appeal for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. The problem is Klim Kostin, as reported by Friedman, is the obvious piece to head the other way. If that deal has been offered and refused, it’s hard to imagine the Blues feeling a need to sweeten the pot. Kostin’s AHL career so far has been a disappointment, but he has the skills to deliver a strong season and has top-six NHL potential. Although he’s in his third season with the San Antonio Rampage, Kostin turned 20 in May. He’s still developing.
Friedman also reported Alexander Volkov is the player being discussed from the Lightning. He has scored 23 goals in each of the past two AHL seasons and has potential. As for the two other wingers on the Syracuse Crunch? Alex Barré-Boulet had an impact rookie season, scoring 34 goals on 223 shots in his AHL debut. He’s undersized and went undrafted but appears to be a very good offensive prospect. There’s also Taylor Raddysh, a big winger who rarely gets mentioned despite scoring 120 goals across four OHL seasons. He was a teammate of Connor McDavid in 2014-15 and has impressive scoring potential.
The Winnipeg Jets began the season on the road and without centre Bryan Little, who is recovering from a concussion). Jets coach Paul Maurice has been turning to Mark Scheifele, Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry and Mark Letestu or Jack Roslovic at centre. When Little returns, he’ll slide into the No. 2 role with Copp returning to the wing. The odd man out, based on talent and being NHL-ready, is Roslovic. It’s uncertain he could deliver at centre, but the Oilers could use skill on the wing, too. There are miles to go before a decision, but Roslovic would be an attractive trade target for Edmonton. And, the Jets may be looking for defence, so Roslovic could be used by Winnipeg to address a need at that position.
Filling cracks and holes
The one thing Puljujarvi’s camp has to count on is the Oilers feel a pressing need to make a move. Two games into the season, there’s not much to tell. Edmonton won both games, has a shot differential of 46 percent, is just 50 percent in goal differential and is 48.49 percent in expected goals, all at five-on-five and via Natural Stat Trick.
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There are some good early signs for the Oilers at right wing, Puljujarvi’s position. Zack Kassian has two goals and an assist, James Neal has two goals, Tomas Jurco has an assist, and Alex Chiasson and Josh Archibald are also in the picture. Sam Gagner represents insurance in Bakersfield, and Kailer Yamamoto and Kirill Maksimov represent the future.
The worst possible outcome of the first two months of the season for Puljujarvi would be Holland’s ongoing indifference about trading him. Without urgency, Puljujarvi is unlikely to play in North America before the end of next summer.
It’s also technically possible the two sides could build a bridge strong enough for an Atlantic crossing. Of all the possibilities available, that one remains the least likely. In the meantime, Kostin, Raddysh and Gauthier will be worth watching. Stay tuned.
(Photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)