Top 5 Jesse Puljujarvi Landing Spots: 5 NHL teams who should claim former 4th overall pick off waivers 

The Jesse Puljujarvi era with the Pittsburgh Penguins has come to a close, as the organization decided to place him on waivers earlier on Monday.

He has 24 hours to be claimed by any of the other 31 NHL clubs, or he'll be sent to their American Hockey League affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Originally selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Puljujarvi spent the first several years of his career bouncing between Edmonton and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2022-23 season.

He later signed a professional tryout contract with the Penguins ahead of the 2023-24 season and was later signed to a two-year, $1.6 million deal. He appeared in 22 games for the Penguins last season, scoring three goals with an assist.

So far in 2024-25, he has three goals and five assists in 21 games while averaging 11:36 of ice time. However, he's been designated a healthy scratch by head coach Mike Sullivan for nine consecutive games.

Here's a closer look at five potential landing spots for Jesse Puljujarvi.

5 NHL teams who should look to claim Jesse Puljujarvi off waivers

#1. Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens have already had a successful Finnish connection, as Patrik Laine has worked out like a charm for them so far this season since his return from a pre-season injury.

Why not add another native Finn? He could benefit from the clear culture that the Canadiens have built, and his large frame could be useful in Montreal's bottom six of their forward lines.

#2. New Jersey Devils

Always on the lookout for added depth to their bottom six, the Devils could benefit from bringing the 6-foot-4 forward to Newark and slotting him onto their fourth line alongside Nathan Bastian.

His $800K AAV would also be easily absorbed by the Devils.

#3. Edmonton Oilers

There's always the chance of returning to where his NHL career began for a second chance.

Puljujarvi enjoyed the best statistical output of his career while playing with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and there's no reason to believe that his career wouldn't be rejuvenated by returning to where it began with the Oilers.

#4. Seattle Kraken

There's a big hole right now in the Kraken's lineup, as captain Jordan Eberle was lost for several months after being forced to undergo surgery to repair a pelvic injury.

A player like Puljujarvi would benefit from playing in a lower-pressure situation like Seattle, where several players who were cast off from their former teams have found a new home.

#5. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are rumored to be looking at trading forward Trevor Zegras, which would mean a major opening in their lineup is up for grabs.

Like the Kraken, the Ducks would represent a low-pressure situation for Puljujarvi in which he could use his size and frame to his advantage, see time on the power-play and be a physical presence.