Penguins Sign Forward to Two-Year Deal
At long last, the Pittsburgh Penguins have penned their new forward to an NHL contract.
PITTSBURGH – Almost two months after joining the team as a free agent tryout, the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Jesse Puljujarvi to a two-year contract. The deal will last through the 2024-25 season and earn Puljujarvi $800,000 against the salary cap.
The Penguins are currently in a tight battle to get back into the playoff picture and there is a firm belief that Puljujarvi can help bolster the bottom six forward group. At only 25-years-old and a former fourth overall draft pick in 2017, Puljujarvi might also still have some offensive firepower to add a touch of scoring.
Puljujarvi joined the Penguins as a free agent tryout in December before heading to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on a professional tryout contract. During his time with WBS, Puljujarvi played in 13 games recording four goals and five assists for nine total points.
While taking practices with the NHL roster and game action with the AHL squad, Puljujarvi was getting more than his hockey legs under him as he was still recovering from offseason hip surgery. With the signing of a new deal, it appears as though he is ready to go for a return to the NHL.
In 334 games between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes, Puljujarvi has scored 51 goals and 63 assists for 114 career points. The Penguins stated before they expect him to be a huge boost to the bottom six on both sides of the puck.
The Penguins return to action against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, we will wait and see if Puljujarvi also makes his return to the NHL.
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