"What a disappointment he's been", "Oilers will bring him home": NHL fans react as Pittsburgh Penguins place Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers

Fans reacted as the Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers on Monday. If Puljujarvi clears waivers on Tuesday, he'll be sent down to play with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Puljujarvi has played in 21 games for Pittsburgh this season, scoring three goals and adding five assists. He has averaged 11:36 of ice time per game, mostly playing on the Penguins' second power play unit. He hasn't played in nine consecutive games, sitting out as a healthy scratch.

Fans expressed their opinions on the Penguins waiving Puljujarvi. One fan tweeted:

"What a disappointment he's been."

Another fan hoped for a reunion, tweeting:

"Oilers will bring him home."

Here are some fan reactions:

"Maybe its time to let someone else get an opportunity.....he has had his 3 strikes," one fan wrote.

"So many players are playing worse in Pittsburgh. This is who they waive?" another fan wrote.

"Glad for him, he was getting screwed here! Hope he gets a chance somewhere else, and they keep Neito, SMFH," a user commented.

"He played very good this season,but we have moronic coach,who had probably some personal agenda vs Jesse. I hope he gets claimed asap and goes on scoring spree.. Good luck Jesse," another user wrote.

Puljujarvi was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers fourth overall in 2016. In February 2024, Puljujarvi signed a two-year $800,000 AAV contract with the Penguins. But after more inconsistent production, Pittsburgh has placed him on waivers, giving the other 31 NHL teams a chance to claim him.

Vancouver Canucks to claim Jesse Puljujarvi?

The Vancouver Canucks are emerging as potential suitors for Jesse Puljujarvi, with team speed metrics suggesting he could provide a much-needed boost to their forward group as per reporter Jonathan Bailey.

While the Canucks rank in the bottom half of NHL teams for both top-speed and high-intensity bursts ( as per NHL EDGE statistics), Puljujarvi's metrics tell a different story.

The Finnish forward sits in the 80th percentile for top speed and 72nd percentile for bursts over 32 km/h, potentially adding a dynamic element to Vancouver's lineup.

With Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes sidelined, the timing couldn't be better. The financials make sense too - Puljujarvi's modest $800k cap hit fits comfortably within Vancouver's $2.191 million space.

The roster logistics are straightforward, requiring only a minor league assignment to create room. The opportunity is there if the Canucks wish to take a chance on Jesse Puljujarvi.