Draisaitl: Puljujarvi 'doesn't feel like he wants to play for us anymore'

Leon Draisaitl hopes things work out between the Edmonton Oilers and restricted free-agent forward Jesse Puljujarvi, but he knows where the 21-year-old stands heading into the 2019-20 season.

"He's a young guy that obviously doesn't feel like he wants to play for us anymore," Draisaitl said Wednesday at BioSteel camp, according to TSN.

Puljujarvi signed a one-year contract with Finland's Oulun Karpat on Tuesday. His deal includes an NHL opt-out clause valid until Dec. 1.

"You obviously want guys to pan out and want guys to help you on your team, but again, it seems like he doesn't want to be on our team as of right now," Draisaitl added. "Maybe that changes. But again, we have people that get paid a lot of money to make those decisions."

Assisted by his agent, Markus Lehto, Puljujarvi has made clear over the past several months he'd like a fresh start with a new NHL club.

Edmonton selected Puljujarvi fourth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, but the 6-foot-4 winger has struggled to carve out a permanent role with the team; he's recorded just 17 goals and 37 points in 139 career contests.

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