Oilers’ Puljujarvi seeking second opinion, could miss rest of season

Edmonton Oilers right-wing Jesse Puljujarvi skates with the puck. (David Becker/AP)

Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi is seeking a second opinion on the lower-body injury he’s dealing with, Oilers GM Keith Gretzky told reporters on Friday.

Markus Lehto, Puljujarvi’s agent, tells Sportsnet’s Mark Spector that if surgery is required after this second consultation, then it’s “more than likely” the 20-year-old will be shut down for the remainder of the season.

Puljujarvi has struggled mightily for the Oilers this season, tallying just four goals and nine points in 46 games played after scoring 12 goals and 20 points in 65 games last season.

He was placed on the injured reserve list on Monday with a lower-body injury, just a couple days after Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said the Oilers were likely looking to send Puljujarvi down to AHL Bakersfield.

“Lots of talk about Puljujarvi including the fact that they might be willing to trade him,” Kypreos said. “I think that’s highly unlikely. There’s no question right now that his value as a player that went fourth overall in 2016 is at an all-time low.

“I think we’re more apt to see him down in Bakersfield. … The feeling is at the young age of 20 years old to get him in a positive environment, and that seems to be now the American Hockey League to help get his progress restarted.”

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