Jesse Puljujärvi on joutunut Pittsburgh Penguinsissa päävalmentaja Mike Sullivanin koirankoppiin.

Sullivan tiputti torstain harjoituksissa Puljujärven kokoonpanon ulkopuolelle. Torniolainen ei näin ollen pelaa ensi yönä, kun Penguins kohtaa Anaheim Ducksin.

Puljujärven peliaika on romahtanut viime aikoina rajusti. Kauden ensimmäisessä kuudessa ottelussa suomalaishyökkääjä pelasi keskimäärin 12:24 ottelua kohden, kun taas seuraavassa kolmessa ottelussa peliaikaa tuli keskimäärin 10:27 ottelua kohden. Keskiviikon ottelussa Puljujärvi pelasi nelosketjussa enää vaivaiset neljä minuuttia ja 59 sekuntia.

On hämmentävää, että kun Penguins menetti oikeaa laitaa pelaavan Bryan Rustin sairastuvalle, alkoi Puljujärven peliaika vähenemään. Moni odotti, että tehokkaasti kautensa aloittanut suomalainen olisi Rustin ollessa poissa saanut vihdoin vastuuta kärkiketjuissa.

Puljujärvi on ollut tällä kaudella Penguinsin viidenneksi tehokkain pelaaja sekä NHL Edgen datan mukaan Penguinsin nopein luistelija. Silti tehottomat ja puolustussuuntaan vähemmän luotettavat Penguins-hyökkääjät kuten Logan O’Connor, Michael Bunting, Noel Acciari ja Anthony Beauvillier pelaavat illasta toiseen suuria minuutteja.

On selvää, ettei Puljujärvi kuulu tällä hetkellä Sullivanin suosikkipelaajiin.

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)
no seriously why does mike sullivan hate jesse puljujarvi
Puljujarvi playing his best games with Eller, than scratched, than moved around for others who have done less and now scratched again

nonsensical

Penguins-fanit olivat aivan hiilenä Puljujärven kohtelusta:

Mari Lönnberg

@LonnbergMari

Kelsey Surmacz

@kelsey_surmacz4
Hey #NightOwls, haven't had anything for you in a while.

So, let's talk about Jesse Puljujarvi.

On his hot start and offensive potential - and how the #LetsGoPens    are not taking advantage of the opportunity they have with him:

@TheHockeyNews #THN
thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh…
thehockeynews.com

Opinion: Penguins Are Wasting Opportunity With Jesse Puljujarvi

The forward, who has made a resounding comeback from double-hip surgery, had five points in his first six games before being demoted in the lineup

Thank You Kelsey for digging in to this with statistics to underline coach’s decisions.

It looks like the coach rather loses with ”the right line-up” than wins if Puljujärvi is in the line-up.

🚘🌞

@BesseCarson

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)
I’ll never understand why PULJU. gets the boot every time. He plays hard and does great on the forecheck

Crosby the Goat 🐐

@DaddyMattyD

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)
Of course Sully scratches Puljujarvi the moment he can 🙄. God he needs to go

Ryan James

@RyanFiore

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)
Really like Puustinen on that second line but I don’t understand Beauvillier over Puljujarvi. Sick of Sully playing his favorites
Fuck Sullivan for real now. Out of all the bums on the roster he scratches puljujarvi again.

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)

Jesse58

@Jesse_L58

Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Blake Lizotte, who has been out since getting a concussion in the Hockeyville preseason game, did rushes:

Malkin-Crosby-Rakell
O’Connor-Eller-Puustinen
Bunting-Glass-Acciari
Hayes-Lizotte-Beauvillier
(Puljujarvi)

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St. Ivany
(Shea-Nieto)
Scratch Beau over Pulju!!!