from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

From cold to colder, dark to darker, Puljujarvi will take his talents to the Finnish Elite League’s Oulun Karpat, a powerhouse in the league that sits a level below the Kontinental Hockey League, which lies some distance below the competitive level of the National Hockey League....

As for this season, he has until 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 to sign his Q.O., or he cannot play in the NHL in the 2019-20 season. (You’ll recall the William Nylander negotiations stretching to the final moments last season.)

By later November, Karpat will have played some 24 Liiga games, a decent sample from which Oilers general manager Ken Holland can fashion a trade — assuming Puljujarvi shows as a dominant player in Oulu.

"I don’t know that him signing in Finland has a huge effect on the situation," Holland said on Tuesday morning, adding that is better for everyone that Puljujarvi is playing somewhere rather than holding out. "I’ve had conversations with numerous clubs that have had interest, some interest, in acquiring Jesse. And I have had, probably in the last 10 days, two or three new teams reach out to me. Teams whose positions have changed, and are checking into the Puljujarvi situation.

"I’ll do a deal if I feel good that I’m making a deal in the best interests of the Edmonton Oilers."

more