A surprising update on the Jesse Puljujarvi situation in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi continues to confound hockey fans everywhere.

Placed on waivers last week, the former 4th overall pick managed to pass through all the NHL's other 31 teams unclaimed. It was then reported that he demanded a trade from GM Kyle Dubas.

My guy... nobody wanted you for free on waivers, you think someone is going to give up assets for you in a trade? C'mon now.

Today, the Puljujarvi Saga in Pittsburgh took another surprising turn as it appears that he's ready to re-join the team on the ice for tonight's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He took line rushes with the team's main roster and it appears that he'll play for the team for the first time since December 7th.

From Penguins insider Matt Vensel:

I imagine that Dubas the Penguins' executive brass are "auditioning" Puljujarvi for a trade, but I don't have high hopes that much will come of the audition.

Stay tuned for the next episode in the ongoing Soap Opera that is Puljujarvi's NHL career.

For our earlier report on Puljujarvi's trade request published by Hockey Feed staff writer Chris Gosselin, read below.

On Tuesday, forward Jesse Puljujarvi cleared waivers and can now continue his career in the AHL. However, that’s not what he had in mind when he landed on the waiver wire.

According to Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Puljujarvi may have asked Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas to be moved to a place where he can play. That’s consequently why Pittsburgh placed him on waivers, but he went unclaimed.

“Puljujarvi hinted that he may have asked Dubas to be moved elsewhere so he could play. The Penguins put him on waivers Monday but he went unclaimed Tuesday,” wrote Vensel.

“It’s a hard business and you have to live with that,” Puljujarvi told him. “I’d like to play and hopefully at some point I get a new opportunity.”

Currently in the final season of a two-year $1.6-million contract, Puljujarvi has been a healthy scratch since Dec. 7. While he could be sent down to the minors, it appears that for the Penguins are keeping him on their roster as injury insurance. Pittsburgh is in action later tonight against the defending champions Florida Panthers.

Since he’s cleared waivers, Puljujarvi could be eventually acquired by a rival team via trade and then wouldn’t have to go on them again to be sent to the minors. However with his stats of three goals and eight points in 21 games this season, while averaging just 11:37 minutes of ice time, it seems unlikely to see him on the move with another team.

Puljujarvi was the fourth-overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and has taken part in 377 NHL games over eight seasons with the Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and Penguins.

What’s next for him?