The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers on Saturday for the purposes of terminating his contract, according to multiple sources.
The timing of this move is noteworthy, with the international transfer deadline approaching on Feb. 15. If Puljujärvi requested this move – and Frank Seravalli’s tweet words it as a “mutual contract termination” – it could be that he wishes to return to Europe before the deadline to finish the season.
Puljujärvi has nine points in 26 games with Pittsburgh this season. He also has three points in four AHL games with the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins, where he’s been assigned twice in 2025 and recalled once by Pittsburgh.
It’s not uncommon for a player to request the termination of his NHL contract if he’s stuck in the minors and has an option to play in Europe. It was seen this season when Brendan Lemieux asked to be freed from his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes so that he could sign with HC Davos of Switzerland’s National League.
Puljujärvi’s home club is Kärpät, based in Oulu in northern Finland, in which he developed as a player and turned pro during the 2014-15 season. After three turmultous seasons in North America, he returned to Kärpät for a season and a half from 2019 to 2021. In all, Puljujärvi has 113 points in 153 Liiga regular-season and playoff games.
Kärpät is currently 11th in the 16-team Liiga with 68 points in 48 games.
Despite his offensive struggles this season, however, it’s not out of the question Puljujärvi could be claimed by an NHL team, given that his contract is relatively low-risk at $800,000 and expires at the end of this season.
After returning to the NHL in 2021, Puljujärvi enjoyed some initial success but, following an unproductive 2022-23 season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina, in which he played in constant pain, Puljujärvi underwent double hip surgery in June 2023.
He didn’t return to the ice until January 2024 and, after a half-season split between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh, Puljujärvi played for Finland at last year’s IIHF World Championship, where he had five points in eight games. If he returns to Europe again, he would again be available to play for Finland at this year’s Worlds.