Jesse Puljujarvi

A lower-body injury cost Puljujarvi about a month in the middle of the season, but he was primarily healthy otherwise, finishing with 14 goals and a career-high 36 points in 65 games for the Oilers. He added 160 shots on goal, 81 hits, and a plus-22 rating for good measure. Puljujarvi provides secondary offense, plays a physical style and advanced analytics love him, so it was surprising to hear that Edmonton was considering moving him this offseason. Nothing ever came of it and he ended up inking a new one-year, $3 million contract with the club. He should fill his usual middle-six role with the Oilers, although an extended run on the top line alongside Connor McDavid, and thus an increase in production, can't be completely ruled out.

After a one-year sabbatical in Finland, Puljujarvi returned to a top-six role in Edmonton in 2020-21. He posted 15 goals and 10 assists in 55 games, although it's important to note 23 of his 25 points came in his last 44 appearances of the year. The winger found a home on Connor McDavid's right wing, which led to a noticeable uptick in production. While Puljujarvi may not be able to replicate his 13.0 shooting percentage he should be set for top-six duties throughout 2021-22. This gives him 40-50 point potential, and he also carries a physical edge that could see him top 150 hits in a full season. He's not likely to see much power-play time, but the even-strength production should be enough for fantasy managers in deeper formats.

Puljujarvi spent all of 2019-20 with Karpat of the Finnish Liiga, where he accumulated 24 goals and 53 points in 56 games. It was an impressive showing for the fourth overall pick from 2016, who struggled in previous years to maintain an NHL role. He last saw action with the Oilers in 2018-19, when he had nine points in 46 appearances. Puljujarvi is expected to return to North America in 2020-21, where he'll likely compete for a bottom-six role. The Finn had 12 goals and 20 points in 65 games in 2017-18 -- a return to that level of play would be a positive sign for the 22-year-old's development as an NHL player, but it's likely not enough to interest fantasy managers in standard formats.

Since getting drafted fourth overall in 2016, Puljujarvi has amassed 37 points in 139 games with Edmonton. The Oilers have not been able to get the best out of the 21-year-old Swede, a reality that has led Puljujarvi to request a trade -- otherwise, the youngster has vowed to play the 2019-20 season in Europe. While it's only a matter of time before he is on a different NHL club, nothing we've seen from Puljujarvi to this point gives us confidence to draft him in fantasy leagues. A change of scenery could very well unlock his true potential, but until such time that a trade goes down, steer clear.

The Oilers' fourth overall pick from 2016 displayed flashes of his lofty draft consideration in 2017-18, unloading 20 points in 65 games, despite only netting four points in the club's final 20 contests. Puljujarvi is once again expected to have a role with the big club in 2018-19 but needs more consistency before he can be trusted. However, the speedy winger could be in line for an impressive campaign if he is able to suit up across from Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl.

Puljujarvi's first season in North America was a mixed bag, as the 2016 draft's No. 4 overall pick flashed his offensive ability with AHL Bakersfield (28 points in 39 games), but it didn't show up quite so much in his 28 contests with Edmonton. One of the top prospects to come out of Finland in a long time, he scored just a single goal to accompany seven assists at the NHL level, as he wasn't trusted with big minutes (11:15 on average) in his rookie campaign and was often a healthy scratch before ultimately playing out the back end of the season in the minors. However, we're talking about one of the highest-upside players in the league, and he's still just 19 years old -- Puljujarvi has tons of room to improve, and he's in a good situation to do so on an Edmonton club that's relatively thin at his natural position, right wing. He’s a player to watch in training camp, as the elite upside is awfully intriguing for fantasy purposes.

Puljujarvi is a big winger who was picked fourth in the 2016 draft after drawing the inevitable Teemu Selanne comparisons bound to follow any elite Finnish prospect. Edmonton’s need at right wing gives him a decent chance of making the roster immediately, though expectations should be tempered as the 18-year-old adjusts to the NHL after registering 28 points over 50 games for Finland’s Karpat in 2015-16. If his 17 points in seven games at the 2016 World Junior Championships are any indication, Puljujarvi has the chance to develop into quite the contributor in due time. Make sure he’s owned in keeper formats, but those in yearly leagues have the luxury of monitoring him from a distance unless he happens to make the NHL team in a premier role right away.