Well, the move finally happened. On Saturday, the Oilers announced they sent Jesse Puljujarvi down to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. Kailer Yamamoto was also assigned to the minor league team.
Now in his third season, Puljujarvi's progression has not been what head coach Todd McLellan expected from the 2016 first-round pick. He was a healthy scratch against the Capitals on Oct. 25 -- and the next three game -- before being reinserted into the lineup. However, he still struggled and only saw 9:06 of ice time in his last game on Nov. 8.
“His development has to get going to where he has a positive influence on the game every night," McLellan told reporters back in mid-October before he scratched the 20-year-old. "There is still some confusion in how that impact can come. It’s not always goals and assists — as we’ve seen, there haven’t been many of those. But there are other areas of the game that are important.
“Young player? Yes. But NHL three years. We have to treat him like we do just about every other player, and hold him accountable. That’s where we’re at.”
In 11 games this season, he netted only one goal and was minus-5 while averaging 12 minutes of ice time. Last year, he played 65 games for Edmonton and had 12 goals and eight assists after a rookie year where he registered eight points in 28 games.
As for Yamamoto, the 2017 first-round pick played in 12 games this season chipping in a goal and an assist while averaging just over 14 minutes of playing time.
He saw time on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins while Drake Caggiula was sidelined with an injury. However, he was unable to meet expectations. Last season, he recorded three assists in nine games with Edmonton before his demotion to Spokane of the WHL.
The Oilers start a two-game homestand on Sunday when they host the Avalanche and then face the Canadiens on Tuesday. Next Saturday they head to Calgary for the first "Battle of Alberta" game of the season.