The Oilers were backed into a corner with injuries to Caggiula and Slepyshev and have recalled Jesse Puljujarvi.
Puljujarvi has just 1-4-5 in 10GP in the AHL with Bakersfield. The reports about his play are positive, much like they were down the stretch last year, even if the offense wasn’t at an elite level. Surely if they wanted the most offensively productive right winger in Bakersfield then they would have called up Ty Rattie who has 6-4-10 in 11 GP.
One thing to note about Puljujarvi’s lack of offensive production, he’s shooting just 3.2% right now. He actually has the 2nd most shots on the team with 31 but – like the right wingers on the big club – JP can’t buy a goal. The Oilers are hopeful that he can continue generating shots and the process will lead to more success with the change of scenery.
Edmonton is also banking on a Draisaitl-like career path for Puljujarvi moving forward.
-Big European struggles as an 18 year old to produce in the NHL. -Gets sent back to the next available lowest level of hockey and plays well -Is sent to the AHL briefly in year 2 but is recalled even after modest results -Develops into a legitimate NHL contributor -Becomes 97’s winger and cashes in on fat contract
OK, maybe the very last part is something they want to avoid, but they want/need Puljuarvi to take a jump forward right away. There is no doubt that the Draisaitl model is in the mind of management. As you’ll recall, Leon Draisaitl was sent down to the AHL in 2015-2016 but only recorded 1-1-2 in 6GP and was a less than exciting -4 in traditional plus/minus. As far as standard numbers go, those would not have predicted he would finish that same year with 19-32-51 in 72GP with the Oilers.
I’m not counting Puljuajrvi out of a long and productive NHL career just yet, that’s for sure. Even a full year after his draft, he’s one of the youngest players in the league once again. All eyes will be on the 4th overall pick of the 2016 Draft in this recall, and that’s the danger he faces. It’s a lot of pressure for the kid. If this is the beginning of a yo-yo season of going up and down between leagues then we risk crushing his confidence.
Edmonton needs a right winger outside of Leon Draisaitl to produce offensively. After Leon the next highest goal total from the right wing is Caggiula and Slepyshev tied at 1. If you count Strome because he split some time at RW then it’s his 2 goals. Either way, it’s not enough.
LINEUP
Puljuajrvi in, Caggiula and Slepyshev out with injury
Maroon McDavid Draisiatl Lucic RNH Puljujarvi Malone Strome Jokinen Khaira Letestu Kassian
Klefbom Benning Nurse Larsson Russell Gryba
Talbot
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Talbot. Cam Talbot continues to show well on the road. He faces his former team this morning with a road save percentage of .938 this season. Cam Talbot has played exactly 200 NHL games in his career and they are split evenly between road and home, a cool 100 for each. He has a .920 save percentage at home and a .922 on the road. The difference is negligible, so we can expect these bizarre splits in 2017-2018 to even out. However, in two games against the Rangers, he has yet to record a win and has a .877 save percentage. It’s time for him to step up against his old club.
2) Under-Powered Play. This is getting ridiculous. Edmonton’s PP is a brutal 13.3% on the season and its stars are the ones failing it. Leon Draisaitl has yet to record a single Power Play point. Nothing. He (obviously), McDavid, Maroon, and Lucic haven’t recorded a single Power Play goal. This is rather shocking considering their combined firepower. Nuge and Letestu are tied for the lead in PP goals with 2 apiece. Edmonton’s woes on the man advantage are shouldered by their best players. They need to get the job done.
3) Stay Out Of The Box. As inept as Edmonton’s PP has been, the Ranger Power Play is ranked 4th in the NHL at 23.8 percent. Given the Oil’s “suspect… Penalty Kill, it would be inadvisable for the club to parade towards the penalty box today. In addition, the Rangers are a bottom half club in the NHL when it comes to 5v5 possession and goal share. They are below 50% in shot attempts, unblocked attempts, and shots. In 5v5 goals, the Rangers are just 45.6%, which suggests that if the teams stay at 5v5 then the Oilers have the advantage.
Puck drops this morning at 11AM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On! Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy