After being drafted fourth overall by the Oilers, in this springs’ NHL Entry Draft, Jesse Puljujarvi didn’t skate in the team’s summer orientation camp due to a knee injury. Now, his knee has recovered and Puljujarvi will be playing in the team’s annual young stars tournament. 

While playing for Karpat in Liiga, Puljujarvi suffered an injury to his left knee on March 4th, 2016, and underwent surgery to correct the issue in May. The injury held the star prospect out of participating at the NHL combine, and, as mentioned above, also held him out of the Oilers summer orientation camp. 

While he was unable to participate in on-ice drills with his potential teammates, he tagged along on the trip to Jasper and ensured that he got in on the classroom instruction and team building exercises. Although Pulujujarvi has missed time, it sounds like the minor surgery shouldn’t be an issue for him moving forward. 

“He’s in the video meetings. He’s watching the practices. He’s in the coaching meetings. He’s understanding what it takes to be an Edmonton Oiler one day. This is all going to help him when he goes back home this summer. He’ll have some things to work on and hopefully come back and take a stab at being an Oiler.” – Oilers senior director of player development Rick Carriere to the Edmonton Journal in July.

With Puljujarvi now healthy and able to participate in the Young Stars tournament, it will give the Oilers and their fans a chance to see him skate as an Oiler for the first time.

It is clear that Puljujarvi will factor into the Oilers’ plans this season, but it will be up to him to decide whether or not he wants to play in Edmonton or in Bakersfield. That being said, his skill set is one that has been lacking in the franchise for some time.

Wednesday morning, the Edmonton Oilers announced their rookie camp roster as they get set to head to Penticton for the annual Young Stars Tournament, running from September 16-19th. 

Camp will open on Thursday with medicals and fitness testing at Rogers Place before the rookies head across the border to Penticton. The camp will wrap up on September 21st, with the Oilers rookies taking on the University of Alberta Golden Bears in an exhibition game at the Clare Drake Arena. 

Among this year’s rookie camp rosters are several notable Oiler prospects including Jesse Puljujarvi, Tyler Benson and recent NCAA signings Drake Caggiula, Patrick Russell and Matt Benning. 

On Sunday, Rogers Place will open its doors to the public and allow for a viewing party so Oiler fans can watch Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid and the rest of Team North America take on Team Finland.

Tickets to the game cost a mere $5 where you will watch the broadcast on the new scoreboard, which is the largest true, high-definition centre ice scoreboard in the National Hockey League.

Interested fans will be allowed into Rogers Place via the pedestrian portal (103 Ave./103 St) at 5:30 PM for the 6:00pm puck drop. Concessions will be open.

Tickets can be purchased here.