Jesse Puljujarvi signs PTO with Panthers’ AHL affiliate

Jesse Puljujarvi may soon be on his way to the Sunshine State.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins forward, who cleared waivers on Sunday, has signed a PTO (professional tryout) with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, the Florida Panthers‘ AHL affiliate, the team announced Monday.

Puljujarvi had his contract terminated on Sunday after clearing waivers.

The 26-year-old has struggled to produce since joining the Penguins in the 2023-24 season and has bounced between the AHL and NHL levels for the past two years.

In 26 games at the NHL level this season, the Finnish national has three goals and six assists. He has one goal and two assists in four games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate.

He originally signed with the Penguins in December 2023 and has appeared in 48 contests, picking up just 17 points.

He then re-signed on a two-year deal valued at $1.6 million with the Penguins in February 2024.

The fourth-overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers from the 2016 draft has scored 57 goals and collected 127 points over 382 career NHL games.

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