SIGNING ALERT | Former fourth overall pick signs as a free agent in the middle of the season

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed former 4th overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi to a two-year, 1.6 million-dollar contract. Puljujarvi, 25, had recorded nine points in 13 games with the team's AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Puljujarvi, a veteran of 334 NHL games, was drafted 4th overall in 2016 behind established NHL stars Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Pierre-Luc Dubois. However, the product of Alvkarleby, Sweden has had trouble finding footing in the NHL. He remained unsigned going into this season after recording just five goals and 16 points across 75 games split between Edmonton and Carolina.

His career-high in points came in 2021-22 when he recorded 36 points in just 65 games — just two seasons ago. His career-high in goals came the season before, 2020-2021, when he recorded 15 goals in 55 games. He will look to add some secondary scoring to a Penguins club searching for a playoff berth as their core players grow yet another year older.

https://www.hockeypatrol.com/BREAKING-Jesse-Puljujarvi-is-Back-in-the-NHL-331763