Former fourth overall pick Jesse Puljujärvi could be on his way back to North America. Rumours are picking up that the Finnish winger is drawing significant interest from several NHL clubs ahead of free agency opening tomorrow on July 1.

Puljujärvi spent last season in Switzerland playing for Genève-Servette HC, where he completely rebuilt his value. He turned in a dominant campaign, racking up 19 goals and 52 points in 52 games. He followed that up with a strong performance for Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, putting up nine points in 10 games while proving he could still produce against high-end competition.

The biggest key to his potential return is health. Puljujärvi has dealt with chronic hip issues for years, including a major double hip resurfacing surgery back in 2023. Reports indicate that those physical limitations are now fully in his rearview mirror, and his skating has looked the best it has in years.

While his previous stints with Edmonton, Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Florida had mixed results, teams now view him as an affordable, low-risk option to upgrade their middle six. At 28 years old, his size, strong forechecking, and defensive awareness make him a very intriguing target for teams looking for cheap depth scoring.