Puljujarvi can be an effective player, but limited upside.
Strengths:
Size
Speed
Weaknesses:
IQ
IQ
IQ
Passing
He is Jokinen, except Jokinen had a better shot. Jokinen was forced-fed prime opportunities in Florida to work on his shot, but he wasn't a very dynamic player at all, thanks to what ended up looking like a lower than average IQ.
People still have a distaste for Jokinen because the Flames got him as a #1 centre, and he was really only a checking centre. Jokinen was still valuable to the Flames at the time for what he was able to provide outside of scoring. I think Puljujarvi can be similarly effective. Put him on a checking line, and give him instructions and targets every shift, and I bet he would thrive.
Now, keep in mind, he is not dynamic. He is big, and he is fast, and that's about it. I think he can make a very good checking type of player who - if the coach can get him to drive the net regularly enough - can have produce well enough as a checker. That's about it though.
If you acquire him thinking he is going to be a complimentary player for a scoring line, you will be disappointed. Jokinen was able to do that because he had a really good shot for a while, otherwise, Jokinen is an excellent comparable here - big, fast, questionable IQ, no dynamic ability to his game really, but can be effective.
|