Davies becomes a bona fide star with Bayern

Everybody wants to know where right-winger Jesse Puljujarvi is going. Here’s one non-destination: Florida.

Even though it might seem like a crackerjack idea — the Oilers dealing Puljujarvi to the Panthers for fellow Finn, centre Henrik Borgstrom, when the 2019-2020 NHL season ends — it’s likely not happening. OK, unless Borgstrom’s agent Markus Lehto, who also does the bidding for Puljujarvi, comes upon a falling out with Borgstrom and the Panthers and the kid decides to sign in Finland like Puljujarvi.

But right now, the Panthers feel centres are more important than wingers, something not unusual for most NHL teams, and after trading Vincent Trocheck to Carolina for four pieces, they still feel Borgstrom is at worst a top-9 centre.

Plus, the Panthers don’t really need Puljujarvi. They have fellow RW Owen Tippett pencilled in for regular work, and they just signed Russian Grigori Denisenko, who might also be an NHL right-winger. While some have also floated a Tippett for Puljujarvi trade because both are first-rounders from the 2016 draft, sources say that’s a total non-starter, even if Puljujarvi’s played 139 NHL games and Tippett just seven. Tippett (10th overall), had 40 points in a shortened 46 games in Springfield because he broke his wrist.

Borgstrom, who played two years at Denver U with Todd Mclellan’s son Tyson, had a so-so first NHL season in

2018-19 and didn’t have a good camp last September and was sent to Florida’s AHL team.

Then he got a lacerated kidney. The Panthers still feel he’s got the tools to be at worst a top-3 centre, although there was a report that Jari Kurri’s Jokerit KHL team was trying to sign the

Helsinki-born Borgstrom for the 2020-2021 season.

“Naturally, numerous top teams in the best European leagues would definitely like to have him, but it’s too early to discuss that. The NHL is his top priority (when the league gets back to playing),” Lehto said.

Puljujarvi went back to Oulu this season and lit it up after wanting out of the Oilers organization. But he hasn’t proven he’s a top gun in the NHL. More like a top-9, not a top-6 winger.

“Kind of like (Kasperi) Kapanen in Toronto,” said an NHL general manager.

That’s how he’s being marketed after 53 points in 56 games back in Karpat in Finland this past season, not as a failed first-round draft pick who just turned 22.

“He’s a third-line NHL right-winger,” said a longtime NHL head coach.

Good tools, big, hockey IQ needs work.

The other idea floated was the Oilers trading Puljujarvi’s rights to Ottawa for their third firstround pick (21st overall, Islanders original choice they gave up for Jean- Gabriel Pageau). That could give the Oilers 20th and 21st picks as of today, but sources say the Senators are lukewarm on Puljujarvi because they are deep in farm forwards ready to make the NHL jump.

Oilers GM Ken Holland hasn’t been talking to other GMS about Puljujarvi’s rights and won’t until hockey resumes.

SO WHEN IS THE DRAFT?

It looks like the push back from general managers on the NHL idea of a June draft even with no completed season might prove effective, even though the league wants to capitalize on the excitement of the NFL draft on TV.

A number of GMS want it after the playoffs, in large part, so they can make player-for-draft-pick deals to unload salary.

“The players are excited and nervous. I know one of our players, Seth Jarvis, must have had 100 meetings over Skype or whatever. There’s no upside for the players to wait,” said local agent Gerry Johannson.