With MacLellan Still Working Phones, Could Capitals Consider Bringing In Puljujarvi On Low-Risk Deal?

The 2016 fourth-overall selection has yet to hit his stride and is coming off hip surgery, but could the Capitals get a spark out of him when healthy?

The Washington Capitals are still looking to make changes going into the season, with general manager Brian MacLellan continuing to work the phones and pursue potential trades. And though it seems the trade route is his preferred path, he didn't rule out the possibility of a professional tryout.

MacLellan acknowledged that there are still some interesting names available in free agency and that the team is exploring all options with training camp kicking off on Sept. 20.

"We'll see how it goes here... we're still talking to agents, we're still talking to a few teams about a trade, so we'll see how it pans out at the end," MacLellan said.

There are still a handful of interesting names remaining on the market with the offseason winding down, and one of those is Jesse Puljujarvi.

Puljujarvi, who went fourth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft as one of the league's most highly-touted prospects, remains unsigned going into the 2023-24 campaign. He is recovering from hip surgery, but could eventually be ready.

However, there's still upside for the 25-year-old, and with the right team, he could rediscover that talent that made him a top selection just years ago.

The Finn wasn't in the best situation with the Oilers, who chose to have Puljujarvi start his first season overseas in the NHL. Puljujarvi got 28 games up at the NHL level in year one, which burnt the first year of his entry-level deal, and he had just one goal and seven assists. Not only that, but he spent just as much time sitting out as a healthy scratch. Finally, around the 40-game mark, Puljujarvi was sent to the AHL to continue his development.

While he did have some bright spots -- he had 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 65 games in 2021-22 -- a rocky beginning to his NHL journey resulted in struggles with confidence, inconsistency and, ultimately, tension with the organization.

He and his camp went public with a trade request in 2019, and after that, he headed back to Finland to play for Liiga's Karpat after not being moved. While he did return in 2021, things went south again between him and the front office, leading to a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he had just two assists in 17 games.

While the road hasn't been easy for Puljujarvi, he could be worth a low-risk deal. Here's why.

MacLellan is looking to add forward depth, and he wants to revamp the top-6. While Puljujarvi hasn't shown he can be a full-time top-6 player, he could bring a new look to the forward lines.

The 6-foot-4, 201-pound winger owns a big frame and has gotten better on the forecheck and more aggressive in puck battles. While he hasn't been able to remain consistent from a production standpoint, he has a wicked shot and the playmaking ability to be a contributor at the highest level.

All Puljujarvi may need is the right coach, and new bench boss Spencer Carbery could fit the bill. Carbery has excelled when it comes to working with up-and-coming players, and perhaps he would be able to get the most out of Puljujarvi's game and help him find that spark.

That being said, if there's not a realistic top-6 trade option waiting out there for Washington at this point in time, Puljujarvi would be an interesting name to consider, given his ceiling and room to grow.

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Like Pacioretty, Puljujarvi could spend time on the IR and come back when ready. And, if things don't work out -- or if Ivan Miroshnichenko manages to win a roster spot and keeps it -- then no harm no foul.

Still, he could give Carbery and the Capitals another young forward option. That'll be good to have, too, especially with Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov's futures hanging in the balance and Max Pacioretty on the injured reserve to start the season.

While there would be a lot of moving pieces and even more to consider when it comes to putting pen to paper, Puljujarvi would be a decent option for MacLellan to consider, especially with the season looming and trade talks not having gone Washington's way yet.