As the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, Jesse Puljujarvi has the chance to return to the National Hockey League.
The Pittsburgh Penguins gave him a professional tryout on Sunday. However, the Pennsylvania team can release him at any time. Puljujarvi can train with the team but cannot play games without first signing a formal contract.
Puljujarvi has been an unrestricted free agent since the market opened last summer and has never found a buyer.
He was limited to 17 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and had just two assists.
Puljujarvi had his best season in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, the team that drafted him. In 2021–2022, he collected 36 points, including 14 goals, in 65 games. He was unable to continue this momentum the following season, so he moved to the Hurricanes on February 28 in exchange for Finnish young player Patrik Puistola.