The next NHL team to play Jesse Puljujarvi will be taking a calculated risk. The 2016 fourth-overall pick has gone from star prospect to suspect to European league standout, and the issue of whether he will ultimately prove a productive NHL forward remains unresolved.



The Edmonton Oilers have incentive to answer that question. Scoring beyond the team’s top forwards has been hard to come by even in a very successful first-quarter of 2019-20.



Puljujarvi, were he willing, would be a suitable match for team need, likely slotting in next to James Neal and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the team’s second line. It would be a good opportunity for the 21-year-old, whose most common linemate the last two years had been Milan Lucic.



Puljujarvi shows no sign of taking it, telling Finnish media he plans to spend the entire year with Karpat. As frustrating as this may be for the Oilers, whose new coach and general manager bear none of the responsibility for the...