The Edmonton Oilers selected forward Jesse Puljujarvi with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft on Friday.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Position: RW
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Kärpät (Liiga)
Nationality: Finnish
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 13 | 15 | 28 |
Puljujarvi entered the draft as the third-ranked European skater, bumped down a peg in light of American-born Auston Matthews' decision to play in Switzerland this past season, and ultimately listed behind countryman Patrik Laine, with whom he battled for the second spot for quite some time.
The 18-year-old is described as a big winger who combines size, skating, and skill; a smart player at both ends of the ice who compares well to Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, according to Elite Prospects.
Puljujarvi carries 71 games of Finnish Elite League experience with him, recording 17 goals and 39 assists (0.55 point per game) as a teenage pro. He also led the 2016 World Junior Championships in scoring with five goals and 12 assists for the dominant and gold medal winning Finnish side.
The Oilers get another promising winger to add to their stable of talented forwards. Edmonton is loaded with trade assets up front and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is reportedly on the block, so it makes sense to add a blue-chip, cost-effective forward to the organization.
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