Finland’s World Championship roster under Jukka Jalonen usually does not lean heavily on NHL talent, so it’s no surprise that this season, there are only four NHLers on the roster. For one of them, it’s a surprise he’s even playing.

Jesse Puljujärvi underwent bilateral hip surgery last June after a 2022-23 campaign split between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes where he constantly battled through pain. Recovery time was said to be six to 10 months, and he was back on the ice in January with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and a month later was offered a contract by the NHL parent club in Pittsburgh.

And some hope that the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Puljujärvi will take on a bigger role on the team since the retirement of Finland’s recent World Championship hero, the 6-foot-8 giant Marko "Mörkö" Anttila, who had a knack for scoring big goals in big games.

“The goal-scoring power now falls on the shoulders of the entire team,” said Ismo Lehkonen, a former player and coach who is now a hockey analyst for Finnish media outlet Yle. “Of course, it would be nice if Puljujärvi took Mörkö's title.” 

“Well... those are pretty big boots to step into,” Puljujärvi quipped when informed of Lehkonen’s suggestion. He eventually added, “Well, why not? But let's take it one game at a time, give it our all and see what happens.”

GM Jere Lehtinen doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Puljujärvi, however.

“After that kind of operation, he had to first learn to walk. Then moving on the ice is completely unnatural since we weren’t created to skate,” said Lehkonen. “I dare say that Puljujärvi is improving all the time. It would be great to have an ending to this story where he scores a big goal, but that would be a bonus. Let’s just let him enjoy playing.”

Besides Puljujärvi, other NHLers on the Finnish team include defenseman Olli Määttä and forwards Mikael Granlund and Valtteri Puustinen, but Lehtinen doesn’t totally rule out adding others if they become available.

“Of course, we will still follow the NHL playoffs, but the starting point is that the group announced today will play in the games,” the GM said when the roster was revealed.

Goaltenders (3): 29 Harri Säteri, EHC Biel, NLA, 30 Lassi Lehtinen, MoDo Hockey, SHL, 33 Emil Larmi, Växjö Lakers HC, SHL

Defensemen (8): 2 Rasmus Rissanen, Örebro HK, SHL, 3 Olli Määttä, Detroit Red Wings, NHL, 4 Mikko Lehtonen, ZSC Lions, NLA, 7 Oliwer Kaski, HV71, SHL, 18 Vili Saarijärvi, SCL Tigers, NLA, 38 Veli-Matti Vittasmäki, Tappara Tampere, 50 Juuso Riikola, SCL Tigers, NLA, 62 Jesper Mattila, KalPa Kuopio

Forwards (14): 12 Jere Innala, Frölunda HC, SHL, 13 Jesse Puljujärvi, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL, 15 Juha Jääskä, HIFK Helsinki, 19 Konsta Helenius, Jukurit Mikkeli, 21 Patrik Puistola, Jukurit Mikkeli, 24 Hannes Björninen, Örebro HK, SHL, 25 Pekka Jormakka, Jukurit Mikkeli, 27 Oliver Kapanen, KalPa Kuopio 48 Valtteri Puustinen, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL, 57 Arttu Hyry, Kärpät Oulu 64 Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks, NHL, 71 Ahti Oksanen, IK Oskarshamn, SHL, 80 Saku Mäenalanen, SCL Tigers, NLA, 81 Iiro Pakarinen, HIFK Helsinki.