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Former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi Opens Up About What Went Wrong In His Latest Stop With The Pittsburgh Penguins

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Tyler Ball
February 12, 2025  (6:32 PM)
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Former Edmonton Oiler and Pittsburgh Penguin Jesse Puljujarvi addressing the media during a press conference.
Photo credit: Screenshot

During a new interview with a Finnish news outlet former Oiler and Penguin, Jesse Puljujarvi reveals the details that led to his release in Pittsburgh just a few days ago.

Last week, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas spoke to the media and revealed his side of why the team terminated Jesse Puljujarvi's contract.

Today we finally got the other side of the story thanks to an interview Puljujarvi did with a Finnish news outlet.

After being released by the Penguins and going unclaimed on waivers Puljujarvi signed with the Charlotte Checkers who are the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers on a professional tryout contract.

During today's new interview, Puljujarvi opened up about the end of his tenure with Pittsburgh and why he chose to stay in North America and take an AHL tryout deal.

Jesse Puljujarvi Spills The Details On Being Released By The Penguins

During the interview with Iltalehti in Finland, Puljujajrvi was first asked about his time in Pittsburgh ending and he confirmed Dubas' comments about there not being a path to NHL playing time which led him to ask for a chance to sign elsewhere.

I was at a dead end. There was no view in Pittsburgh. That's why we ended up with such a solution.

At this point in my career, I didn't think about money at all. I want to enjoy hockey, play, and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt it was important.


Then as a natural follow-up question, Puljujarvi was asked why Charlotte and the Florida Panthers organization was the right fit.

Of course, the Panthers are the defending Stanley Cup Champions and have an incredibly difficult NHL roster to crack.

In the end, Puljujarvi admits that being in North America is still closer than being in Europe if he still plans to earn his way back to the NHL he understands the challenge ahead of him but is excited to prove his worth.

If I had gone to Europe, I certainly wouldn't have had the chance to play in the NHL again this season. And playing in the NHL has always been my goal.

My NHL value is not very good. On the other hand, I had already not played for a couple of months at the point when I was put on the transfer list. All that can be said is that the level here is tough. Of course, the teams have their own youngsters and so on.


It seems that Puljujarvi is committed to being an NHL player despite the setbacks he has suffered over the last several seasons and feels that being in Charlotte is a better opportunity for him to get back to the big leagues than with the Penguins.

Over the next couple of months, it will be interesting to see if his gamble on himself pays off or backfires and ends his chances of returning to the NHL full-time.

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Former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi Opens Up About What Went Wrong In His Latest Stop With The Pittsburgh Penguins

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