Player Discussion Jesse Puljujärvi 4th Overall 2016 Draft. Part III On Loan To Finnish WHC Team

[FlameChampion]

Yes that's true as well. It's a shame the Bakersfield thread is so quiet. I wondr if it means there's not too many people watching the games there, or if it's just that they are not spending time on this forum.

I think its probably because theres not really any exciting or sexy prospects down there. Not really any first rounders down there other than Reinhart who isn't showing much. Should pick up with JP down there. If Oilers continue to be better and get some later first rounders who need more development, people will probably tune in more.

 

[Mr Positive]

This is great news. Hope he can keep it up for a couple months and gain some confidence. I've been really disappointed in this guy so far this season but I'm really rooting for him to turn things around.

his shortcomings were predictable imo. He was billed as a strong two-way player moreso than a skilled scorer, and two-way players can take a bit longer to develop considering they need more nuance to their games, and can't just look great getting set up on the PP.

His time in the NHL probably helped him a lot. Bakersfield can teach him about NA ice and the NA game, but not NHL competition and flow of the NHL game. What you don't want is for JP to be too comfortable in the AHL. Getting an NHL stint probably helped Drai a lot, to go back to the WHL but with what he needed for the NHL in mind.

 

[MMC]

Is there any chance he plays in the playoffs if you guys make it?

 

[Aceboogie]

Is there any chance he plays in the playoffs if you guys make it?

I wouldnt think so. I think hell do well int he AHL and get called back up with around 15 games to go. But in the playoffs Ill bet TM is uber conserative (should we make it, long way to go). Hell play a vet like Hendricks over Puljujarvi barring JP totally start to dominate

I could see him being used on the PP in the Ovechkin type shooting location. Hes got a wicked shot and we have zero big shooters on this team. So if he improves on that aspect in AHL maybe in playoffs hell be used as PP specialist

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Is there any chance he plays in the playoffs if you guys make it?

I don't see why not but that'll depend on his play in Bakersfield and injuries.

 

[BB88]

The Condors guy said during the game he saw Pulju& Sallinen on the bike in the morning. He had talked with Sallinen who said Pulju was happy to be there, he wants to play.

I noticed no attitude problems with him during the game, right from the 1st shift you could tell he was there to play.
It was the 1st game but if there's something I was a bit dissapointed his linemates missed a few chances, Pulju was open few times close to the net with a good shooting spot, especially 1 in the 3rd but they went with another option that went nowhere and on 1 time during powerplay Pulju could have shot the puck but went over for a pass, it wasn't the greatest angle though. But nothing that bad.

He wasn't afraid to go behind his own net to get the puck and hold on to it and challenge guys using his speed, could have drawn few calls.

 

[doulos]

his shortcomings were predictable imo. He was billed as a strong two-way player moreso than a skilled scorer, and two-way players can take a bit longer to develop considering they need more nuance to their games, and can't just look great getting set up on the PP.

His time in the NHL probably helped him a lot. Bakersfield can teach him about NA ice and the NA game, but not NHL competition and flow of the NHL game. What you don't want is for JP to be too comfortable in the AHL. Getting an NHL stint probably helped Drai a lot, to go back to the WHL but with what he needed for the NHL in mind.

The idea that his shortcomings were predictable was not what I heard from the vast majority of fanboys of this kid who thought he was absolutely NHL ready and going to play well basically out of the gate.

It's easy to say 'yeah this was probably to going to happen' now that it's already happened. That was certainly not the story being told heading into the season by most people. Far from it.

 

[BB88]

The idea that his shortcomings were predictable was not what I heard from the vast majority of fanboys of this kid who thought he was absolutely NHL ready and going to play well basically out of the gate.

It's easy to say 'yeah this was probably to going to happen' now that it's already happened. That was certainly not the story being told heading into the season by most people. Far from it.

None of us knew 100% how the knee surgery was going to affect him.
He hired an ex olympic speeds skater and few more healthy months with him instead of recovering could have made a huge difference.

There was also a stretch where Pulju was playing better than Laine, (I've watched both guys every NHL game this season).
But Maurice didn't bench Laine, he kept giving him icetime& special team time and Laine worked through it and just before his concussion was looking ready to take the next step.

 

[doulos]

None of us knew 100% how the knee surgery was going to affect him.
He hired an ex olympic speeds skater and few more healthy months with him instead of recovering could have made a huge difference.

There was also a stretch where Pulju was playing better than Laine, (I've watched both guys every NHL game this season).
But Maurice didn't bench Laine, he kept giving him icetime& special team time and Laine worked through it and just before his concussion was looking ready to take the next step.

I've heard this idea that Puljujarvi played better than Laine at points this season and it doesn't do much for me. At points Letestu played better than Crosby as well.

 

[BB88]

I've heard this idea that Puljujarvi played better than Laine at points this season and it doesn't do much for me. At points Letestu played better than Crosby as well.

These are though 18y kids playing their 1st season in the NHL/nhl rink, and it wasn't stats, he was better without the puck.

 

[doulos]

These are though 18y kids playing their 1st season in the NHL/nhl rink, and it wasn't stats, he was better without the puck.

Point still stands. The larger the sample size, the bigger the gap between these two players right now. Hopefully one day that will change.

 

[snipes]

Pulju had to be one of the best players on that 1st period.
He and Khaira are going to be a nightmare duo at the AHL level.

He was used on the one timer spot on the pp, they couldn't give him a shot there though so he was making plays.

Of course I'd love to see him in the NHL playing real minutes(wasn't happening) but looking at this 20 this makes so much more sense than playing him 8 mins or sitting him at the press box.

Good 1st game for Pulju.

1 assist,
I believe +2,
stong effort level, was always moving,
had the puck, had chances, created few chances.

Can't wait to see how he'l look like in 2-4 weeks.

Thanks for the review BB.

 

[GameChanger]

Point still stands. The larger the sample size, the bigger the gap between these two players right now. Hopefully one day that will change.

I know you feel negative about Pulju so I don't expect you to change your mind. However, I feel you make things a bit too simple and don't consider the circumstances, ice time, role, PP time etc. enough. Laine has been excellent in the 1st line, but defensively he's been behind Puljujarvi. Except for the one penalty, I don't think Pulju's mistakes have cost any goals. Laine also didn't do too well outside the 1st line (might be better now, but that we can't know) and on the other hand Pulju played well the few games he was in the 1st line.

All I'm saying is that it's more complicated than just staring at the total points. As I've said before, put McDavid to the 4th line, take away all the PP time, keep changing the guys around him, and punish (bench/press box) him for each mistake he makes. Then we could see if that affects the points or not. My pretty safe guess (IMO) is he would be a heck of a 4th liner, but his total points would look disappointing. Could we then say that e.g. Matthews is a much better player?

It's possible that Laine will be a better player even if the two players have similar roles and as much ice time, but (especially) until that situation it's useless to compare them. It's also very possible that in that situation Pulju will be such a good two-way forward that there is no need to make comparisons.

 

[BB88]

Point still stands. The larger the sample size, the bigger the gap between these two players right now. Hopefully one day that will change.

And again could there be a reason for this?

There wasn't after the 1st 15 games, so something happened, what?

Once more, if Maurice started to bench Laine when he hit his slump Laine wouldn't be the Laine he is today. He has gotten 1st line minutes, with icetime in every offensive special team situation. He has been allowed to work through his issues and the result now is a pretty damm good Laine.
Now Pulju gets to play that same role in the AHL and work through his issues in game situations.

Thanks for the review BB.

No problems, when's the next game?

 

[snipes]

No problems, when's the next game?

This Friday against the Stockton Heat (Flames affiliate).

Definitely keep up the reviews when you have time, we all appreciate it. You're a knowledgeable poster and I trust what your eyes are telling you.

Pulju looked pretty confident and stood out as being one of the best on the ice eh?

 

[BB88]

This Friday against the Stockton Heat (Flames affiliate).

Definitely keep up the reviews when you have time, we all appreciate it. You're a knowledgeable poster and I trust what your eyes are telling you.

Pulju looked pretty confident and stood out as being one of the best on the ice eh?

In the 1st definitely, noticed him well.

2nd period was overall pretty bad hockey from both teams and the game was basically over when the 3rd started.
The powerplay doesn't look great and the guys mentioned it has been weakness, maybe let Pulju carry the puck in with his speed and let someone set up the play, would allow Pulju to work on his puck handling issues as well.

 

[doulos]

And again could there be a reason for this?

There wasn't after the 1st 15 games, so something happened, what?

Once more, if Maurice started to bench Laine when he hit his slump Laine wouldn't be the Laine he is today. He has gotten 1st line minutes, with icetime in every offensive special team situation. He has been allowed to work through his issues and the result now is a pretty damm good Laine.
Now Pulju gets to play that same role in the AHL and work through his issues in game situations.

Laine had 16 points in his first 15 games, including two hat tricks. Jesse had 1 goal and 5 points. After the first 15 games Laine was utterly destroying Puljujarvi offensively. Even if Puljujarvi was better than Laine defensively, they were in no way comparable players the first 15 games of the year.

 

[snipes]

In the 1st definitely, noticed him well.

2nd period was overall pretty bad hockey from both teams and the game was basically over when the 3rd started.
The powerplay doesn't look great and the guys mentioned it has been weakness, maybe let Pulju carry the puck in with his speed and let someone set up the play.

He was getting fairly heavy PP minutes though?

Hopefully we get to see him set up for one timers from the left side, he's got some serious velocity on his shot. I want to see him working that one timer during his AHL time.

You mentioned earlier I think that his puck handling looked better (haven't double checked)? Was he bobbling it as much or was he receiving passes under control for the most part?

 

[BB88]

He was getting fairly heavy PP minutes though?

Hopefully we get to see him set up for one timers from the left side, he's got some serious velocity on his shot. I want to see him working that one timer during his AHL time.

You mentioned earlier I think that his puck handling looked better (haven't double checked)? Was he bobbling it as much or was he receiving passes under control for the most part?

He was on the #1pp unit and looked good on the 1st pp they had in the 1st, he was on the one time spot but they didn't go for his shot, so he was passing from that spot. Would be nice to see him get to work that shot in the AHL and avoid the Iginla trade because I believe by deadline Pulju will be the superior player.

He seemed to be able to controll the play there, in the 1st he got the puck near the boards and went behind the net setting up a play in front of the net but the guy missed the net.
Regularly went behind his own net/low in the D-zone to get the puck and showed his skating through the neutral zone, like I said they could have called a few holding calls/one boarding call from those plays if they wanted.

Hopefully they keep working on Pulju to become the Hossa 2.0 and give him time on the pk at some point, like Toronto is doing with Kapanen right now.

Laine had 16 points in his first 15 games, including two hat tricks. Jesse had 1 goal and 5 points. After the first 15 games Laine was utterly destroying Puljujarvi offensively. Even if Puljujarvi was better than Laine defensively, they were in no way comparable players the first 15 games of the year.

Laine was producing but there were lot of things he had to work on his game.
He turned the puck over regularly on the neutral zone and had weak adv.stats. They were a lot closer than the offensive points showed. But they entered into very different situations/teams.

Pulju has the potential to close that difference what they have today but like before the draft I said you need more work with him.

 

[snipes]

He was on the #1pp unit and looked good on the 1st pp they had in the 1st, he was on the one time spot but they didn't go for his shot, so he was passing from that spot. Would be nice to see him get to work that shot in the AHL and avoid the Iginla trade because I believe by deadline Pulju will be the superior player.

He seemed to be able to controll the play there, in the 1st he got the puck near the boards and went behind the net setting up a play in front of the net but the guy missed the net.
Regularly went behind his own net/low in the D-zone to get the puck and showed his skating through the neutral zone, like I said they could have called a few holding calls/one boarding call from those plays if they wanted.

Hopefully they keep working on Pulju to become the Hossa 2.0 and give him time on the pk at some point, like Toronto is doing with Kapanen right now.

Good to hear, a few weeks or couple months in the AHL could do wonders. He'll obviously be back up at some point down the road.

More of this is what we need, give him 20 mins/game with some heavy PP minutes and 1st line time.

Pulju is obviously McDavids future RWer, but like many of us said before the season even started, he doesn't need to jump into that role this year. It's nice not having to put lots of pressure on a rookie to play heavy minutes.

Can't wait to see him in the years to come, hopefully he sticks around in Canada this offseason and spends some time with McDavid, Nurse, Drai (if he sticks around and doesn't head back to Germany) and the other guys. Even go to Ontario with them if McDavid and Nurse head home this summer. Hang out, train, work on his English and just develop that camaraderie.

Once he hits his stride, seeing 97 and 98 fly up the ice together will be must see hockey and TV for any fan.

 

[GameChanger]

Laine had 16 points in his first 15 games, including two hat tricks. Jesse had 1 goal and 5 points. After the first 15 games Laine was utterly destroying Puljujarvi offensively. Even if Puljujarvi was better than Laine defensively, they were in no way comparable players the first 15 games of the year.

Yes, Laine had an unbelievable start offensively. But after about 15-20 games (can't remember exactly when I checked the stats) Puljujarvi actually had a better ppg/60 min and by that time Laine's mistakes had cost directly four goals. At that time Pulju was also leading the team at corsi stats, while Laine was the last of the whole NHL at his worst. So I don't agree with you that Laine was utterly destroying Pulju. He played a lot more, especially on PP, and had some of the best players in NHL (especially Scheiffele) to help him produce.

At that time I was following the games of the both players pretty closely and for a long time Pulju looked clearly better than Laine. Obviously Laine has developed his game since that, while Pulju started to have barely no ice time. It's impossible to know what would have happened with Laine if he'd got the treatment Pulju did, but as written above he probably wouldn't be the same Laine yet. It's also impossible to know how Pulju would be doing if he'd stayed in the 1st line, but chances are he might be a pretty hot player now or at least a readier one.

 

[BB88]

Good to hear, a few weeks or couple months in the AHL could do wonders. He'll obviously be back up at some point down the road.

More of this is what we need, give him 20 mins/game with some heavy PP minutes and 1st line time.

Pulju is obviously McDavids future RWer, but like many of us said before the season even started, he doesn't need to jump into that role this year. It's nice not having to put lots of pressure on a rookie to play heavy minutes.

Can't wait to see him in the years to come, hopefully he sticks around in Canada this offseason and spends some time with McDavid, Nurse, Drai (if he sticks around and doesn't head back to Germany) and the other guys. Even go to Ontario with them if McDavid and Nurse head home this summer. Hang out, train, work on his English and just develop that camaraderie.

Once he hits his stride, seeing 97 and 98 fly up the ice together will be must see hockey and TV for any fan.

I'm very happy for Pulju that he is finally in the AHL and has a proper chance to develop his offensive game. His ceiling is top RW in the game so no need to mess with that.

McDavid, Drai, Pulju is going to be such a nightmare trio to play against and I can't wait to see him in the NHL again playing well.

 

[snipes]

I'm very happy for Pulju that he is finally in the AHL and has a proper chance to develop his offensive game. His ceiling is top RW in the game so no need to mess with that.

McDavid, Drai, Pulju is going to be such a nightmare trio to play against and I can't wait to see him in the NHL again playing well.

The kid will be just fine. He has too much drive, size, and talent to not put it all together. We've already seen flashes of it. I'm not worried about him, he just needs time. Pulju is the youngest player in the NHL this year.

With the way Drai has been developing, he's becoming an absolute beast. The way he defends the puck with one hand on the stick and guards his body has become clinical in the O zone. He's so strong on the puck, he reminds me of Kopitar more and more every day. It's not outlandish to think he might be the best player from the 2014 draft one day.

With our D core locked up fairly cheap and Nurse likely to come in cheap as well, those 3 up front will be kept together and dominate the NHL. Line matching will keep coaches up at night .

 

[sepHF]

ill say it......if lander can score puluj should score 50

Lander has many many more years experience as a pro so it's not really a fair comparison. AHL is hard too.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Jesse just gave an interview in finnish where he basically said that he hasnt had the feeling to play & that he has no idea what the Oilers plan is for him.

Poor guy. Oilers managed to kill his joy.