Jesse Puljujarvi has reportedly been traded

UPDATE 2: It's official! The Edmonton Oilers have traded former 4th overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for 22 year old Finnish-league winger Patrik Puistola.

UPDATE: Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed Pierre LeBrun's earlier report and is now reporting that the Hurricanes have shipped winger Patrik Puistola in exchange for Puljujarvi.

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Read below for our earlier report on this developing story.

According to a report from TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, the Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Jesse Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Check it out:

More to come on this developing story including official confirmation. So far no other insiders are reporting on the potential deal, but it's worth noting that LeBrun is believed to have a close relationship with Oilers GM Ken Holland. In other words, if any of the reporters are going to know about it first, it's likely to be LeBrun.

If indeed Puljujarvi is on the move, it ends years of trade speculation that has surrounded the former 4th overall pick. The 24 year old has struggled this season with just five goals and 14 points in 58 games, following a stellar 36 point campaign just last season. Try and try as they might, the Oilers just haven't been able to make it work with Puljujarvi and there has been plenty of speculation that the team was considering cutting bait with him entirely and placing him on waivers. It seems though that the Hurricanes were at least willing to chip in something in order to give him a shot.

And, to be honest... I really think Puljujarvi will have a chance to succeed in Carolina. He'll be reunited with his former World Juniors linemates Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen and he'll be joining a team with plenty of Finnish fire power. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for Puljujarvi and what kind of contract he sets himself up for this upcoming offseason.

As for Puistola, the Oilers are acquiring a 22 year old former 3rd round pick (77th overall in 2019), who has yet to play a single game outside of Finland. There's a chance that he signs with the team this offseason and comes over to get some AHL and NHL action next season, but this has all the makings of trade where Ken Holland is simply trying to clear the deck and, in doing so, he clears $3 million off of the Oilers' books.