The Hurricanes finally made a move on February 28, 2023, when they acquired forward Jesse Puljujarvi from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Patrik Puistola. The trade comes as a surprise to many fans and analysts, as both players have shown promise in their respective careers.
Jesse Puljujarvi was drafted fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The Finnish forward struggled to find his footing in his first few seasons with the Oilers, but he has shown significant improvement in the 2022-23 season. Puljujarvi has tallied 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 57 games, ranking fourth on the team in scoring.