Just had a good talk with Jesse Puljujärvi, and it’s probably safe to suggest he would’ve been happy if if he’d been claimed by another NHL team while on waivers the past couple days.

I asked Puljujarvi after practice here today if he might’ve initiated the conversation with Kyle Dubas to get a chance elsewhere — waivers or whatever — adding that I know how much he wants to play. 

“Yeah, that’s the thing,” he replied. “I spoke to Kyle a couple weeks ago about the situation, and I want to play because it’s been a big, long process for me to this point.”

He was referring, of course, to the double-hip resurfacing which might’ve ended his career. 

“Being healthy — and I’m healthy now — I’d like to play. That’s the goal. And I will keep going to get that goal.”

And how hard was it to go unclaimed?

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s a hard business. I’d like to play. And hopefully, at some point, I get a new opportunity.”