Jesse Puljujarvi's Future with the Oilers Remains Uncertain

Jesse Puljujarvi has been on and off the NHL's trade rumor mill for years, but recent rumors suggest he could be on the move soon.

Jesse Puljujarvi has been the subject of frequent trade speculation since the summer. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the 24-year-old winger and the Edmonton Oilers could part company at some point this season.

On Saturday, Friedman reported there was a discussion between Oilers management and Puljujarvi's camp about moving him if things didn't work out this season. He referenced Puljujarvi's comments to a Finnish sportswriter last week in which the winger expressed his lack of confidence over becoming a productive NHL player.

Friedman believes trading Puljujarvi could take some time, citing the Oilers' banged-up roster. He also indicated they won't have any salary-cap issues until sidelined winger Evander Kane is ready to return. Kane is recovering from wrist surgery and could be back sometime in February at the earliest.

Now in his sixth NHL season, Puljujarvi has struggled to meet expectations as a scoring winger since the Oilers chose him fourth overall in the 2016 draft. He and the Oilers avoided arbitration last July by agreeing to a one-year, $3-million contract, but that didn't keep him out of trade rumors during the remainder of the off-season and throughout training camp.

There was talk that the Oilers were getting offers for Puljujarvi but weren't pleased with what they were being pitched. His trade value likely hasn't improved since last week's interview. The Oilers could end up settling for whatever they can get at this point to clear Puljujarvi's contract from their books before Kane's return in the new year.