Jesse Puljujarvi up for young player of the year award in Europe

Jesse Puljujarvi is up for an award after a successful season playing in Finland.

Puljujarvi was named as a finalist for the young player of the year award handed out by the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs.

The 21-year-old played with Karpat this past season where he scored 24 goals and 53 points in 56 games. He posted tremendous numbers after leaving the Edmonton Oilers and led his team in scoring this past year.

Puljujarvi came in fifth in total scoring in the Liiga and fifth in goals. It was exactly the kind of season Puljujarvi needed to have to regain his confidence.

Edmonton still owns his rights, and I’m holding out hope that Puljujarvi will come back to Edmonton at some point in the not-so-distant future.

Also named as finalists for the award are HC Davos’ Benjamin Baumgartner, Lulea Hockey’s Nils Lundkvist, Forlunda HC’s Samuel Fagemo, and Alder Mannheim’s Tim Stutzle — a top prospect in this year’s draft.

On Twitter: @zjlaing