Jesse Puljujarvi’s struggles with the Edmonton Oilers and Pierre-Luc Dubois’ uninspiring start with Cape Breton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League have muted the media uproar created when the Blue Jackets passed on Puljujarvi to take Dubois with the No. 3 overall draft pick in June. Puljujarvi fell to Edmonton at No. 4.
Puljujarvi, supposedly bunched closely with fellow Finn (and No. 2 pick) Patrik Laine in both NHL readiness and talent, has one goal and six assists in 21 games for the Oilers and has been scratched seven times. (By comparison, Laine has 17 goals and eight assists in 29 games for Winnipeg.