Jesse Puljujärvi has been with the Penguins in Pittsburgh for weeks, and now we might be getting one step closer to seeing him on the ice for the team.

Puljujärvi has been with the organization since December 10th, practicing with the team as he continues to recover from double hip resurfacing surgery in the offseason. He signed a very rare in-season professional try out with the team, which allows him to participate in practices and other activities, but bars him from playing in any regular season game before signing a standard NHL contract.

As per his PTO, the Penguins were only allowed to cover Puljujärvi’s living costs for the first ten days of his deal. Since then, the former fourth overall pick has been covering that on his own, with no real contract yet to have. However, he is inching closer.

Oddly enough, in order to get closer, he actually has to go farther away.

The Penguins are planning on signing Puljujärvi to an AHL-level professional try out. An AHL PTO allows Puljujärvi to play up tp 25 games for Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Players can also sign a follow up PTO after the 25 games have been completed, if an AHL/NHL contract does not present itself, but they want to remain with the team in seek of a deal.

Placing Puljujärvi at the AHL level for the time being allows him to continue his rehab and development, while also assuring he can hit the ice when he is ready to play in real games.

Puljujärvi would have a tough time cracking Pittsburgh’s lineup in his current state, but with time played and confidence built in the AHL, Puljujärvi would be better fit for a potential NHL job in the semi-near future.

Over his professional career, Puljujärvi has 51 games played in the AHL, with 37 points in said games. He last played in the league in the 2018-19 season, where he was a point a game in 4 contests for the Bakersfield Condors.

He largely struggled with his draft team, the Edmonton Oilers, but he did show success and promise as he continued to grow and mature. After harsh early seasons with the team, he recorded 25 points in 55 games in 2020-21, and a career high 36 points in 65 games the following season.

The Penguins are hopeful they can get that version of Puljujärvi, who has skill and size in his game. The 25 year old had 16 total points in 75 total games last season, split between the Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes.

(Featured image by Jason Franson/CP)