Fellow Finn, former Oiler, and five-time Stanley Cup winner Esa Tikkanen says he knows what it takes to make it in Edmonton and Jesse Puljujärvi doesn't have it. In a recent tweet, Tikkanen calls Puljujärvi a "very skilled player", but adds in Edmonton, you need to have something more. When pressed to explain what he meant by "something more", Tikkanen wrote:
Edmonton is 100% hockey town where everyone expects you to give 110%. And not just game days but all the time! I loved it but I know it can be hard for many players!! Especially when you are a young kid with high expectations.
Tikkanen won Stanley Cups in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990 with the Oilers, and again in 1994 with the New York Rangers. He finished his NHL career with 266 goals and 630 points in 877 games. He was especially effective in the playoffs, scoring 72 goals in 186 games, good enough for 14th on the all-time NHL playoff goals list.
Puljujärvi is refusing to return to the NHL until Edmonton trades his rights to another team. The restricted free agent has signed a one-year deal with Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Elite League, which contains an out clause should he be traded before December 1st, the deadline for RFAs to sign a new NHL contract before having to sit out the entire season. Reports say Edmonton has received inquiries about Puljujärvi, but GM Ken Holland will not agree to a trade until he gets his asking price, which is a prospect with top-nine forward potential and a draft pick.
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Meanwhile, Oilers GM Ken Holland seems to be taking the whole situwin stride.
"I don't know that him signing in Finland has a huge effect on the situation,” Holland said on Tuesday morning to Sportsnet's Mark Spector. “I've had conversations with numerous clubs that have had interest, some interest, in acquiring Jesse. And I have had, probably in the last 10 days, two or three new teams reach out to me. Teams whose positions have changed, and are checking into the Puljujarvi situation. I'll do a deal if I feel good that I'm making a deal in the best interests of the Edmonton Oilers.”
