Jesse Puljujarvi reportedly asks for move out of Pittsburgh!

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?