Puljujarvi signs 1-year deal with Karpat in Finnish league

Edmonton Oilers restricted free-agent forward Jesse Puljujarvi has signed a one-year deal with Karpat in the top Finnish league, the team announced Tuesday.

The contract is for the entire season, but it includes an opt-out clause that allows Puljujarvi to return to the NHL anytime before Dec. 1 - the latest date the CBA allows a player to join a roster without clearing waivers.

The Oilers made Puljujarvi the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but he's mustered just 37 points in 139 career games. Most pundits expected him to go third overall to Columbus after Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, but the Blue Jackets surprised everyone at the time by taking Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Now in need of a change of scenery, Puljujarvi requested a trade from Edmonton earlier this offseason, but new Oilers general manager Ken Holland was unable to fulfill the request. However, heading overseas doesn't rule out a potential trade before Dec. 1.

Puljujarvi was born in Sweden to Finnish parents and moved to Finland when he was 4 years old. Karpat is the team closest to his hometown, and he grew up playing in its organization for years before heading to North America to join the Oilers.

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