Jesse Puljujarvi continues to have a great season in SM-liiga. The 21-year-old, whose NHL rights belong to the Edmonton Oilers, has 11 goals and 20 points in 18 games with Karpat. As such, he is drawing interest from teams around the league. According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, one team that appears to be extremely interested in acquiring the forward is the New York Rangers.
"I believe the New York Rangers are a team that continues to show persistent interest in Jesse Puljujarvi," stated Johnston Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada.
"I don't beleive the Oilers have reached an internal decision on what they're going to do here, if it's a trade right away, if they hold on to his rights beyond the December 1st deadline when he would have to be signed to play in the NHL this season, or if they try and keep him," said Johnston Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada.
Johnston says despite the Oilers great start to the season, he believes Puljujarvi's stance of wanting a trade out of Edmonton hasn't changed. He adds Oilers GM Ken Holland has had inquiries from several team's dating back to the summer, but the Rangers, in particular, have remained interested in acquiring Puljujarvi.
Holland made it clear before the start of the season that the asking price for Puljujarvi is a prospect and a 2nd round draft pick. Whether he has softened his stance any on that ask remains to be seen.
Puljujarvi made it clear before the start of the 2019-20 season that he was staying in Finland until traded to a new team, adding he felt he needed a fresh start.
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