Oilers’ Potential Return From Canadiens in a Jesse Puljujarvi Trade

Now that Jesse Puljujarvi is signed, Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland should have an easier time trading him. Holland and head coach Jay Woodcroft may be on different pages in this regard, but they ultimately want what’s best for the team.

Holland has emphasized that Puljujarvi played really well through the first quarter of last season and lost his confidence after that. He fell down the lineup, and Holland was and may still be trying to sort things out. Whether that means he is traded or Holland lets things play out for another season remains to be seen, but Woodcroft is confident that Puljujarvi is one of the young pieces worth investing in.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are looking to move some players out and bring in pieces for the future. They have reportedly shown interest in Puljujarvi and have been doing their due diligence since before the 2022 NHL Draft (from “Murphy: With Puljujärvi Signed, Canadiens Should Circle Back,’ Montreal Hockey Now, July 26, 2022). The Oilers’ forward still appears to be on the trade market as teams try to figure out their rosters this offseason, including the Canadiens and Oilers. Here’s a look at what the Habs could offer for Puljujarvi and what might happen if the Oilers decide to hold onto him.

Player, Prospect, or Pick for Puljujarvi?

The Oilers will have several players competing for fourth-line duties. As Puljujarvi is expected to play on the third line, the team will want a better player to fill that void rather than a fringe NHLer. The Canadiens are trying to move out salary and would have to move players to bring on money. Could they trade recently acquired Kirby Dach? He isn’t an established NHL center yet and struggled as much as Puljujarvi did overall. Dach already got his change of scenery from the Chicago Blackhawks, but he is still a restricted free agent. Having a player like Puljujarvi, who is already signed, might be attractive for teams like Montreal that want to know how much cap space they are dealing with.

It would be most beneficial for the Oilers to get a player who could help them next season. A pick does nothing for them next season and only helps if they are confident in some of their prospects, like Dylan Holloway, Xavier Bourgault, and Raphael Lavoie, taking the next step. As a contending team, the Oilers…