Forward Jesse Puljujarvi hits rock bottom…

Forward Jesse Puljujarvi’s stay in Carolina appears to be over. And you have to wonder if the same thing can be said of his NHL career.

According to Chris Johnston, the Hurricanes will not make the impending restricted free-agent forward a qualifying offer and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent on Saturday.

This is another tough blow for the former first rounder, who recently underwent double hip surgery and is expected to be sidelined for some time.

Puljujarvi came to Carolina after the Edmonton Oilers sent him packing in a trade at the past deadline in March. He appeared in 17 games for the Canes, recording just two assists. He added an assist in seven playoff games.

For his career, with includes 317 games over five-plus seasons for the Oilers who picked him fourth overall in 2016, Puljujarvi has 51 goals and 63 assists in 334 games.

You have to wonder if this is it when it comes to his NHL stats and career. Puljujarvi runs the risk of not getting signed as a free agent this offseason and could end up back in Europe, if anyone needs him there, if he wants to purse a hockey career. He will have to wait and see how he recovers from hip surgery.

And also how his ego is doing after quite the fall down in the NHL…

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