I don't get this way of thinking that the Oilers are infallible. He's not under any contractual obligations to the Oilers. A ****ing lottery ball decides the fate of 18 year olds for the next 10 years, to me that is pretty ridiculous. Anyways, holding on to him just out of spite is such a petty thing to do. Doesn't look good to future FAs either.
The kid was straight up not having a good time here, because he doesn't want to learn English (which btw, is not as easy some some people here make it out to be), and also because the locker room wasn't as welcoming probably? Either way, for his own mental health, he made a very brave decision to take a step backwards, sometimes you need to do that to get back on track.
Also I dont' think Jesse has been doing below expectations at all, not sure what your expectations are for him. He's the best player on the best team in Liiga.
these rules need to be changed, if you and your team can’t come to an agreement during your RFA status, it should be a 2 year max before you can officially enter free agency, or a full 82 game period. The fit isn’t their so why completely ruin his career. Accept it’s not working and move on
Nah, I dont think the league would agree to that. Not sure the players would even want that, regardless, given that almost all of these players recieve mad investment money from NHL teams that likely doesn't exist if team control time drops.
He can always sign with the Oilers and request a trade or try to arrange an offer sheet once he is eligible. The NHL has no obligation to let him choose where he wants to play. And conversely he is free to seek employment in any other league if he chooses. No one is ruining his career. It is his choice to follow the path he is on.
He decided not to sign a contract that was offered. He decided to demand a trade. He decided to go home.
If anyone shoulders the blame for ‘ruining’ his career it would be him.
I dont know if this is text of bitterness? Im pretty convinced he will not come back. He doesnt want to play in a canadian city, to much pressure for him I think.
Why does he need to sign with the Oilers to request a trade? Why would he sign a contract with a team that he has no intention to play for?
He's on the path he's on right now because of the NHL's RFA rules. NHL rules are ****ing mental (the whole draft syste in NA sports in general, I much prefer European football style management rules). For whatever reason Jesse is unhappy on the Oilers (language barrier, teammates, homesickness, whatever) and now he's basically at the mercy of the Oilers until he's like 25. It's actually laughable how people think that's fair. It's also laughable how bitter some people are that he won't sign with the Oilers. I sense there's a crowd of people just hoping for him to fail. It's pathetic.
He can request a trade where he is right now. But if his goal is to play in the NHL his current choice is the Oilers. Its not a question of being fair. If he does not like it he can stay in Finland and the Oilers can't stop him. But after investing several million dollars in this player why should they not retain control on an asset that is important to their team?
As far as bitterness, I hold none towards him. in fact, exactly the opposite. He's a kid in a business that is extremely high-stakes and definitely not for the faint of heart. . Most people his age have a hard time deciding what to eat on their on let alone manage the pressure that comes from an NHL job. Frankly if he is happy in Finaland I am fine with him staying there. It's his life. But I also want the Oilers to play their hand as well as they can.
I could have quoted half this thread, good points countering the whole NHL has stupid rules argument.
If he wants to play in the nhl, which he has repeatedly said he does, he needs to prove he is talented enough and follow the league rules no matter how ridiculous they seem to his fans.
He IS contractually obligated to the Oilers as long as he is trying to get into the nhl.
Being the best player on the best team in a inferior league is like being the smartest kid in the remedial classes in high school. Then holding out for Harvard to give you a call.
The only place he is going to prove he is a legit nhl player worth trading for is in the NHL. The only way he is guaranteed to get nhl time is if he sucks it up and plays for the Oilers.
Maybe he plays well enough in Europe for another team to take a chance on him but seriously 50/50 chance of that happening is generous.
What Holland is not going to do, by reputation and history to date, is give away Puljujarvi for little to nothing. I can't understand how anyone outside of Puljujarvi, his family/friends, and his agent would even want that.
Teams invest with their draft picks and if anything I, and the owners/GMs want to extend how long a player is contractually obligated to the team that drafts them.