Penguins to terminate Jesse Puljujarvi’s contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed right winger Jesse Puljujarvi on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual contract termination, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Through 26 appearances with the Penguins this season, Puljujarvi has registered three goals and six assists for nine points alongside 10 penalty minutes and a minus-one rating. Puljujarvi has also seen time in the AHL this season, where through four showings with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he has notched one goal and two assists for three points with two penalty minutes and a minus-two rating.

Skating in his second season with the Penguins, Puljujarvi closed out the 2023-24 campaign with four points counting three goals and one assist coming in 22 outings. Per PuckPedia, Puljujarvi is in the final year of a two-year pact that carries an $800,000 annual average value.

Originally chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft, Puljujarvi has seen 382 career contests counting stops with the Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Penguins in which he has totaled 57 goals and 70 assists for 127 points. Puljujarvi reached a career-high 36 points with the Oilers in 2021-22. The 26-year-old forward has also added three goals and three assists for six points through 27 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Should Puljujarvi clear unconditional waivers, he will become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any NHL club. Puljujarvi must be under contract prior to the March 7 NHL trade deadline in order to participate in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Entering Saturday’s contest against the Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia Flyers, the Penguins sit 23-24-9 on the season and six points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past two seasons.