Jesse Puljujärvi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jesse Puljujärvi
Puljujärvi with Finland in 2016
Born	(1998-05-07) 7 May 1998 (age 27) Älvkarleby, Sweden
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NL team Former teams	Genève-Servette HC Oulun Kärpät Edmonton Oilers Carolina Hurricanes Pittsburgh Penguins Florida Panthers
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	4th overall, 2016 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	2014–present

Jesse Puljujärvi (born May 7, 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He plays as a forward for Genève-Servette HC in Switzerland's National League (NL).

Jesse was considered a top young player when he was drafted. The Edmonton Oilers picked him fourth overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

He started playing hockey in Tornio and Oulu, Finland. Jesse became a professional player in 2014 with Oulun Kärpät in Finland's top league, the SM-liiga. He has played in the NHL since 2016, mainly for the Oilers. He also played briefly for the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers. Even though he was born in Sweden, Jesse plays for Finland in international games.

Playing Career

Early Years and Junior Hockey

Jesse Puljujärvi was born in Älvkarleby, Sweden. When he was four, his family moved to Tornio, Finland. That's where he started playing ice hockey.

At 13, Jesse moved to Oulu by himself. He joined the local hockey club, Kärpät. In the 2011–12 season, he scored 15 goals and 41 points for the U16 junior team. The next season, he moved up to the U18 juniors. He scored 51 points and won an award for the best U18 rookie. His U16 team won the Finnish Championship that year.

In the 2013–14 season, Jesse mostly played for Kärpät's U20 junior team. He broke his leg, which kept him out for two months. But even at 15, he became a key player. He scored 23 points in 18 games. Kärpät won the U20 junior championship silver medal that season.

Becoming a Professional Player

Playing for Oulun Kärpät (2014–2016)

In May 2014, Jesse signed a three-year contract with Kärpät to play in the SM-liiga. He played his first official professional game on September 5, 2014. It was a Champions Hockey League match against a German team. Jesse even scored in the shootout!

He made his SM-liiga debut on September 10, 2014. He was only 16 years old, making him the youngest player in Kärpät's history. He also got an assist, becoming the youngest Kärpät player to score a point. Jesse scored his first goal in his third game, becoming the youngest goal-scorer in Kärpät's history.

In his first season, Jesse scored four goals and 11 points in 21 games. His team, Kärpät, won the Finnish Championship. He also played for Kajaanin Hokki in the Mestis league and won a bronze medal there.

In the 2015–16 season, Jesse played his first full season in the SM-liiga. He scored 13 goals and 28 points. Kärpät won the SM-liiga bronze medal.

Joining the Edmonton Oilers (2016–2019)

In January 2016, NHL scouts ranked Jesse as one of the top players in Europe for the upcoming draft. The Edmonton Oilers drafted him as the fourth player overall. He signed a three-year contract with them in July 2016. Jesse chose to wear jersey number 98, which was unusual for an NHL player.

Jesse earned a spot on the Oilers' NHL team in the fall of 2016. He made his NHL debut on October 12, 2016, and scored his first NHL goal in that game. He played 28 games but then was sent to the AHL to play for the Bakersfield Condors. He scored 12 goals and 28 points in 39 AHL games.

In November 2017, Jesse was called back up to the Oilers. He played 65 games that season, scoring 12 goals and 20 points. The team even hired a personal English teacher for him. In January 2018, he had his best game, scoring one goal and two assists against the Vancouver Canucks.

In November 2018, Jesse was sent to the AHL again for a short time. He played 46 NHL games in the 2018–19 season. His season ended early in February 2019 due to a hip injury that needed surgery.

Back to Kärpät (2019–2020)

For the 2019–2020 season, Jesse returned to Oulun Kärpät in Finland. He had a great season, leading the team in points and goals. He was one of the top scorers in the entire SM-liiga. The season ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, he signed another contract with Kärpät and was named an alternate captain.

Return to the Oilers (2020–2023)

In October 2020, Jesse signed a two-year contract to return to the Edmonton Oilers. He played 16 games for Kärpät before joining the Oilers in December.

After the 2021–22 season, Jesse signed a new one-year contract with the Oilers in July 2022.

Carolina Hurricanes (2023)

In February 2023, the Oilers traded Jesse to the Carolina Hurricanes. He played 17 games with Carolina and scored two points.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2023–2025)

For the 2023–24 season, Jesse signed a tryout contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He didn't make the main team and instead played for their AHL team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. After playing well in the AHL, he signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2024. He made his debut with the NHL Penguins on February 6, 2024.

During the 2024–25 season, Jesse played 25 games for the Penguins. In December 2024, he was sent back to the AHL. In February 2025, he left the Penguins organization.

Florida Panthers (2025)

In February 2025, Jesse decided to stay in North America. He signed a tryout contract with the Charlotte Checkers, an AHL team linked to the Florida Panthers. After playing well, he signed a contract with the Florida Panthers. He scored his first goal as a Florida Panther in April 2025.

Switzerland (2025)

On July 8, 2025, Jesse signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette HC in Switzerland's National League.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  Finland
ice hockey
World Junior Championship
Gold	2016 Finland
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver	2015 Switzerland
Gold	2016 United States

Jesse has played for Finland in many international tournaments. He helped Finland win a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.

In January 2016, Jesse played for Finland at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. They won the gold medal! Jesse scored 5 goals and 12 assists, totaling 17 points in seven games. This placed him second all-time for an under-18 player, behind only Jaromír Jágr. He also tied with famous players like Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros. He was named the Best Forward and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Later in 2016, Jesse also won another gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships. This made him the first European player to win both a U20 and U18 gold medal in the same year.

He also played for the senior Finnish national team at the 2017 IIHF World Championship and the 2024 IIHF World Championship.

Playing Style

Experts have studied Jesse's playing style. One challenge he faced was carrying the puck. He sometimes took big risks when trying to get past opponents.

When he played in Finland, Jesse was known for his offensive play. In the NHL, he often started plays in the attacking zone. When he was on the ice, his team usually had more chances to score. He also tried to keep control of the puck as much as possible.

While playing in the AHL, Jesse learned to change his style for the smaller North American rinks. This helped him get into better scoring positions in his second NHL season. One expert noted Jesse's strong play in the middle of the ice. He was very good at getting the puck and scoring from those situations.

Some experts have compared Jesse's playing style to famous NHL players like Blake Wheeler and Jarome Iginla. Jesse himself has said his style is similar to Evgeni Malkin.

Personal Life

Jesse Puljujärvi was born in Sweden to Finnish parents. He lived there until he was four. He feels culturally Finnish and doesn't speak Swedish. He has dual citizenship for both Finland and Sweden.

In his free time, he enjoys playing ice hockey with kids in his neighborhood. While playing in Edmonton, he got the nickname The Bison King. This happened after he posted a picture of himself giving a thumbs-up with a bison behind him.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Finland	IH18	5th		4	3	2	5	4
2015	Finland	U18			7	2	5	7	4
2015	Finland	WJC	7th		5	0	0	0	0
2016	Finland	U18			4	5	2	7	2
2016	Finland	WJC			7	5	12	17	0
2017	Finland	WC	4th		8	0	0	0	4
2024	Finland	WC	8th		8	3	2	5	4
Junior totals					27	15	21	36	10
Senior totals					16	3	2	5	8

Awards and Honors