Carolina Hurricanes head coach, player legend Rod Brind’Amour will largely decide Jesse Puljujärvi’s future in the NHL.
Striker Jesse Puljujärvi was finally able, after about a week of waiting, to join his new club Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday evening Finnish time.
Kärppien met his new teammates in Montreal, where the Hurricanes were away.
– There were those visa problems. Or problems and problems, I guess that process takes about a week. I waited a week in Edmonton to get here.
The player applied for a US work visa on Monday in Ottawa.
– Everything is fine in that regard. Now let’s go, now let’s go, the 24-year-old attacker enthused in an interview with Iltalehti.
Aho shelters
Sebastian Aho is the stylish lead player of the Carolina Hurricanes. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
In Carolina, the duo Sebastian Aho-Puljujärvi, known to puck lovers, will reunite again.
The duo played together from the age of 12 to 13 in Kärppie’s C, B and A teams, as well as in the SM league.
Puljujärvi-Aho also wreaked havoc on junior national teams. In the Under-20 World Cup in 2016, Oulu’s teams played in the same chain and racked up a whopping 31 power points in total.
Finland won the World Cup gold at that time. Puljujärvi was the tournament’s MVP, i.e. the most valuable player.
Playing with Aho is a pleasant bonus for Puljujärvi, who has traveled the NHL road from bounce.
– Well, it certainly is. “Sepe” played in the same team as a junior. It has a lot of experience, it’s nice to play in the big league with “Sepe”.
In which chain?
The future of Jesse Puljujärvi in the NHL is very much in the hands of Carolina Hurricanes head coach, player legend Rod Brind’Amour. With the Oilers, Puljujärvi’s job never went well, now the 24-year-old forward will get a second chance. AOP / USA TODAY Sports
– Jesse brings a lot of skating power and hard work to our team, a bit of the qualities of a power forward. Of course, Jesse can also score goals. When he gets to places, he uses his good shot, Aho told Iltalehte on Tuesday.
It will be interesting to see if Hurricanes’ charismatic head coach Rod Brind’Amour gives “Pulju” a chance in Aho’s chain.
This will likely happen, as the head coach and the entire organization want their signing to get off to a good start in North Carolina.
In the long run, the place for Tornio’s man can be found in the lower chains.
Towards spring
The Hurricanes are a top team. It has a realistic chance of going far in the spring.
– Yes, Hurricane is a tough gang. When there are a couple of Finns involved, the team has become followed. A playoff team.
– Yes, I think it is possible to go anywhere with this team, 24-year-old Puljujärvi says.
Aho, who is playing a tough season again, is on the same lines.
– Of course we believe that we can be the best team in this league. That is our goal. Of course, it requires a lot of work and a lot of success.