Penguins sign 'pain-free' forward Jesse Puljujarvi

Jesse Puljujarvi was a healthy scratch Saturday for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ 3-1 road win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s coaches had their motivations.

More accurately, they had their orders from Pittsburgh Penguins management.

Puljujarvi was making his return to the NHL.

On Sunday, the 25-year-old Puljujarvi was formally signed to a two-year NHL contract with a salary cap hit of $800,000 for the remainder of this season as well as the 2024-25 campaign.

The transaction marked the end of a nearly two-month audition of sorts for Puljujarvi, who hooked up with the Penguins in December on a tryout basis as he tried to rehabilitate from surgery to both hips. After signing with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a professional tryout contract Jan. 4, Puljujarvi posted nine points (four goals, five assists) in 13 American Hockey League games.

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— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 27, 2024

After undergoing surgery in June, Puljujarvi was jettisoned by the Carolina Hurricanes as an unrestricted free agent in July.

Going unsigned throughout the offseason, Puljujarvi, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, is grateful for the opportunity the Penguins have granted him.

“It’s been now almost eight months after the surgery,” the right-handed Puljujarvi said after Sunday’s practice session. “Been working really hard getting this opportunity. This has been a big call to get some games in the best league in the world. Hopefully, I can play soon here and the body is feeling good. Thirteen games (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) was really fun. Get good minutes, get the feeling again, how to play hockey. It was really fun.”

Puljujarvi’s hips were in such ragged condition, he admitted to Finnish outlet Yle Urheilu that he needed painkillers occasionally to step on the ice before his surgery.

Today, he is happy to simply not hurt.

“There is no pain,” Puljujarvi said with relief. “I am really happy about that. I can keep playing pain-free.”

Coach Mike Sullivan suggested Puljujarvi could make his debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins as soon as Tuesday when they host the Winnipeg Jets.

A native of Sweden who grew up in Finland, Puljujarvi (6-foot-4, 201 pounds) has six years of NHL experience with the Oilers as well as the Carolina Hurricanes. The right-handed shot has appeared in 334 NHL contests and posted 114 points (51 goals, 61 assists) while logging an average of 13 minutes, 35 seconds of ice time per contest.

During Sunday’s practice, he skated on a third line with Lars Eller and Rickard Rakell.

“A big, strong player,” Rakell said. “Really good in front of the net and down low protecting pucks. Also, good speed. He’s going to contribute well to this team. We practiced today. If we play (together in) the next game, a lot of skill on our line and can grind a little bit, too.”

Like Puljujarvi, Rakell (No. 30 overall in 2011) and Eller (No. 13 in 2007) were first-round draft picks.

“All three of us have the ability to score,” Eller said. “We have to move. It’s all about chemistry. If you bring the work — (Rakell) always brings the work, I like to think I do as well, and Jesse, I’m sure, is going to be hungry — then it’s just about finding the chemistry and the anticipation with each other.”

Given that the 2023-24 campaign is past the midway point, Penguins management issued a two-year contract to Puljujarvi to keep him in their plans beyond the current season.

Given the state of his physical well-being this past offseason, Puljujarvi had to prove he was able-bodied enough to merit an NHL contract.

“That was part of the process,” Sullivan said. “To get him in some games (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), give him an opportunity to get his feet under him and establish his game. He had significant surgery. That was a substantial rehab process that he went through. That was part of it, without a doubt. With every game that he played, he got better and better.”

His next game will be with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Really long journey to come here,” Puljujarvi said. “I can help this team when I’m skating well and make good plays, be myself and be energized every day.”

Notes: With Puljujarvi signed, the Penguins now have 48 NHL contracts for the 2023-24 season, two short of the league limit of 50. … Penguins defenseman John Ludvig and forward Reilly Smith were full participants in practice. Ludvig is currently designated to long-term injured reserve because of an undisclosed injury he suffered Dec. 31. As for Smith, a suspected left arm injury has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 11. Sullivan suggested both players could be “game-time” decisions for Wednesday.