McShogun99
Registered User
I remember watching the both players pretty carefully at the WJC-20 and Puljujarvi was definitely better, not just points-wise. Basically all the scouts thought so too. Puljujarvi actually looked better when they played against each other in their first NHL season, but the two players have faced very different usage. Two things that bother me the most are:
1. He's scored good enough points and done between pretty good and excellent in the top6. So why has McLellan dropped him almost every time it seemed Pulju got it going. I mean what's the point, does he really believe that's the best way for the player or the team. I honestly think that's a big joke, but not a good one.
2. How is it possible that Puljujarvi, who was a PP specialist as the shooter/CQ'ing role, hasn't been used in that position and it's over two years now? Can anyone seriously say the team has done everything well when they simply don't even try to use the player according to his strengths.
Saying those aloud doesn't mean Puljujarvi hasn't got things to develop, but I seriously think the points I mentioned are obvious and need to get corrected first before we can really evaluate Pulju or compare him with other prospects with that kind of usage. It'd be a hole different issue if he'd struggled in the top6 or if we didn't know that they haven't even tried his best tool PP yet.
Look at last year. We were basically out of the playoffs by December and instead of putting our prized prospect in the top 6 we put new players to the team like Aberg in the top 6. Pretty much anyone but JP gets an extended look in the top 6. Most teams would have had JP as a lock on the PP and playing with skilled players, we put him in a grinding role and expect him to succeed while trying to carry Strome and whatever garbage winger they put on the line.