Monday Mailbag – What Do You Expect From Puljujarvi?

Happy Monday, fine citizens. Here is yet another edition of the Mailbag to help you kill a few minutes of company time, and give you an opportunity to learn something at the same time. As always, this feature is completely dependent on you guys and I need questions for next week. If you’ve got a question you can email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or DM on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk.

Yes, I think he makes the team out of camp and I’ll say he scores 39 points. If he scores that many that will be great for the Oilers, especially for a rookie.

I think he makes the team out of training camp, yes, though the prudent approach would be to give him an adjustment period in the AHL. With Puljujarvi, while he’s been undeniably impressive, I just keep flashing back to Aleksander Barkov. Barkov was a far more accomplished scorer than Puljujarvi at the same age – I did a head to head comparison between the two here – and put up just 24 points in 54 games. If Puljujarvi plays all year and puts up 35 points, that will represent a very successful season in my mind.

I think he does make the team out of camp, and would guess 28-35 points this coming year (with 15-20 goals). He is going to get a big chance on the PP, and could flourish, making my prediction look silly. When that happens, I will need you to move this answer to Jonathan Willis.

I think he stands an excellent chance to make the team out of camp. I’d say 20-20-40 if he plays a full season. But that’s pure guess work. I like everything he’s done so far.

He is sure trending in the direction of making the team. It is well known that I think time in the AHL is a good thing for many players. I would be inclined to starting him down there to give him some time to adjust to the style of game on the smaller rink and to take some pressure off. Also if they sign Versteeg they will have to many right wingers so it would be an easy way to keep Yak on the team and give him a chance to get going.

Yes, I think he’ll make the team out of camp. Guessing total for points is a shot in the dark. Where will he play? How much and in how many games will he play? Let’s say 35-40-ish.

Chris the Intern: 

I do think Puljujarvi will make the team out of Oilers camp, however, if Versteeg gets signed and Chiarelli wants Puljujarvi to spend some time in the AHL, it may happen. The way Puljujarvi dominated the rookies, I think he’s gotta make the team. My point prediction is a little aggressive for Puljujarvi, but I think he can put up 20 goals & 30 assists if played properly. 

I think Puljujarvi has a job to lose, actually. I think that this kid has all the tools to make the team, and would really have to struggle in pre-season games to get cut. I’d bet Gregor’s money on it.

I think Versteeg because the Oilers have very little experience among top-nine RWs (Eberle, Yakupov, Puljujarvi). Versteeg has proven he can play with skilled players. He is versatile, he is productive, has experience and he’s won. I also think Gryba has a good chance to make it because of their Oilers lack of depth on the right side. I’d expect a one-year deal for both.

Kris Versteeg. Edmonton needs help at forward more than they need another non-scoring defenceman. With that said, injuries always happen in training camp (often on the blue line) and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the coaching staff decides that it prefers Gryba to, say, Mark Fayne.

Versteeg. If he is healthy, this guy would have been an astute signing in full free agency, so getting him on a PTO is flat out fantastic.

I think they both stand an equally good chance to make the team. I’m giving Versteeg the upper hand without seeing him yet this season. There are two young players in Puljujarvi and Yak who don’t have the experience playing a two-way NHL game. Coaches eat that stuff up. Gryba should be the 7D of the Oilers at bare minimum but maybe Chia wants to give the spot to Reinhart. Not sure there.

My prediction is that Versteeg gets a contract and Gryba signs a two-way deal. Versteeg adds some nuts to the bottom of the lineup that can also score some points. They will need production from that group.

Versteeg. He’s versatile and can play up and down the line-up in the top-nine on RW. Gryba strictly auditioning for 6-7 spot on blue line.

With them playing different positions, I feel like they both have an equal chance to make the team. We could definitely use a guy like Gryba, again, as a depth defenseman. In my opinion, if Kris Versteeg wants to play on your team, you should let him play for your team. Both players will benefit our offence and defense in their own ways, and should be signed at the end of training camp.

I can see both of them making the team, but I would lean towards Versteeg if I had to pick one of the two. I think he has the ability to make more of an impact on the roster with not only his skill, but his experience as well. 

When is a few years? Two, three or four? Lucic has been pretty good as well as Eberle, but Puljajarvi’s size, speed and skill are very enticing. But you are correct Eberle is better than many think. I think Bob was thinking Puljujarvi has the skill set to be a driver. Eberle is not that. And I don’t see it as a shot against Eberle, but more so Bob being high on Puljujarvi. But I will ask Bob if he means two years or four. The timeline is important in the discussion.

I think the feeling is that Puljujarvi is going to be a more versatile talent, bringing size and a level of two-way play that Eberle isn’t known for. Whether his scoring ends up matching Eberle – a first-line NHL right wing – remains to be seen, but it’s certainly within the realm of possibility. More importantly, the perception of Eberle within the market is what it is; unfairly, a lot of people would regard Puljujarvi evolving into sub-Eberle as a major disappointment.

Puljujarvi is big, fast, right-handed and a pure shooter and passer. He has more range, more things to bring to the party. We don’t know that JP will develop into a complete player, but the elements are there. Bob is being aggressive in his prediction, but it makes sense. Eberle is a fine winger by the way, a very valuable player on the team.

I think Ebs gets shorted on credit, but as a fourth overall pick who probably should have been third overall, Puljujarvi is coming to camp as a highly talented teenager. This kid has all the tools to be an incredible player. A bit premature to say for sure he will be better than Eberle, but not impossible.

He is like a kid opening his gifts on their birthday — the next one is always the best! HA! There is no doubt that Jesse looks to be a good player but I believe in delivering. Show me the money!

How do you make the leap to Eberle not getting any credit? Connor McDavid is the best player on the team. Does that mean nobody else gets any credit?

I don’t think that quote from Stauffer was a shot against Ebs, more of a compliment to Puljujarvi. Though Eberle needs to work on a couple things, Puljujarvi has such a hype coming with him onto the team (and he’s big), it’s easy to have big dreams for him.

It was a ballsy prediction to say the least, but I get where he’s coming from. If Poolparty can develop steadily, and the Oilers can put him in positions to succeed then I think he has every chance to become the team’s best winger. I wouldn’t count on that happening any time soon, though. 

I highly doubt they have Team NA or Team Europe next time. They probably go to eight countries, which means Swiss, Slovakia, Germany or another will be in. It won’t be as competitive. I wouldn’t mind seeing a quarterfinal with 3 vs. 2 and the #1 seeds get a bye.

I’d make the tie-breaker goals for, to encourage scoring. Otherwise, I think it’s fine.

I would change the rules to allow North America to get through instead of Russia. Other than that, and I was not sold on the tournament beforehand, it was a brilliant three weeks.

I wouldn’t eliminate any team after the round robin. Only seed them. Losing Team North America because they won a game in OT versus in regulation is garbage. The second best team in the tournament didn’t even play an elimination game. That has to change. Also, I would absolutely keep Team North America but make any player who has already suited up for TNA eligible to be selected by their home country. 

Canada is just too solid and has too many great players to choose from. Has them winning the gold ever been in doubt?  Let’s make two teams out of Canada. The two chosen coaches can have a draft.

None.

This comment is going to be 100% biased towards North America, but I wish somehow there was a format that didn’t boot the young guns out of the tournament after going 2-1 in the round robin. It’s almost unlucky that the one team they lost to was the tie breaker team. Maybe go with a GF vs GA tiebreaker? Like I said, I’m biased. 

I think they need to work on how teams advance. Team North America won two of three games and got bumped, and I think anyone that watched the tournament would have loved more Team NA games to watch. I also think teams like USA will push to have access to all of their talent regardless of age. I mean, how much better could Team USA have done had they had access to Gaudreau, Eichel, Matthews, etc?

Erik Karlsson. They need defence, but Karlsson is one of the most exciting players in the league to watch. He is incredible. He’d be worth price of admission most nights.

I’d take a right-shooting defenseman with offensive ability. Erik Karlsson versus Drew Doughty is a debate that will seemingly rage on forever, but there’s no question in my mind that Karlsson’s dynamism makes him a better fit to collaborate with Adam Larsson; just imagine running Sekera/Karlsson as an offensive tandem and Klefbom/Larsson as a shutdown pairing. I should also mention that I was tempted by Aaron Ekblad’s age, but Karlsson’s young enough that it doesn’t make a big difference.

Erik Karlsson. That guy with McDavid would be music at evens and PP. Goals for days.

PK Subban. I think he would be the perfect player for this club based on its needs. That the Oilers never seriously considered the possibility (as has been reported) makes me unhappy. Edmonton gets the PP point man it needs and the right side goes from a question mark to a strength in the blink of an eye.

Drew Doughty. He does so much for a club. Good defender, right shot, carries the puck, can run a power play and is super competitive.

Erik Karlsson. No. 1 D-man who shoots right and produces points. Just entering his prime now.

Sidney Crosby?

I’m going with P.K. Subban. Now that Chiarelli picked up defensive juggernaut, Adam Larsson, he needs a guy that can put some points on the board. P.K. can do that.