On March 5, 2025, the Florida Panthers officially announced their agreement with forward Jesse Puljujarvi on a two-way contract, securing his services for the remainder of the 2024-25 NHL season. The announcement was made by Bill Zito, the Panthers' President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
Puljujarvi, 26, joined the Panthers after initially signing a professional tryout (PTO) with the Charlotte Checkers on February 10, 2025. During his time with the Checkers, he demonstrated his playmaking abilities, recording three assists over seven games this season.
Bringing considerable experience, Puljujarvi has compiled notable statistics throughout his hockey career. He has skated in 382 NHL games for three teams: the Edmonton Oilers (2016-2019, 2020-2023), the Carolina Hurricanes (2022-2023), and the Pittsburgh Penguins (2023-2025). Over those games, he has amassed 127 points, including 57 goals and 70 assists. His performance this season prior to the signing included nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) over 26 games with the Penguins.
Beyond his NHL contributions, Puljujarvi has also made significant impacts at lower levels, including the American Hockey League (AHL). He has played 77 AHL games, during which he garnered 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists), demonstrating his versatility and persistent offensive capability.
His success is not confined to North America; Puljujarvi has also competed internationally, representing Finland at various tournaments. He led his country to gold at the 2016 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, not only winning the title but also being named the tournament's most valuable player after leading all skaters with 12 assists and 17 points across seven games. Puljujarvi was also pivotal during his participation at the IIHF U18 World Championships, where he achieved gold in 2016 and silver in 2015.
Soon after joining the Panthers, Puljujarvi expressed enthusiasm about his new opportunity. Zito remarked, "We are excited to welcome Jesse to the Panthers family and look forward to his contributions to our team." This statement underlines the organization's confidence in Puljujarvi’s potential to strengthen their forward lines.
The Panthers are gearing up for the second leg of their current home stand as they prepare to host the Springfield Thunderbirds on Wednesday night. Fans will have the chance to see their newly acquired player take to the ice as part of their lineup this season.
Looking forward, the Florida Panthers are encouraging fans to catch the action live. Tickets for 2024-25 single games are now available for purchase through SeatGeek.com or directly at the Amerant Bank Arena Box Office, which operates Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. For those interested, the Panthers are also inviting fans to join the waitlist for Season Ticket Memberships for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
With Puljujarvi's signing, the Panthers look forward to reinvigorated competitiveness as they aim for success this season. His proven track record, combined with the support from both the franchise and its dedicated fanbase, positions Puljujarvi as a strategic player to watch moving forward. Fans remain hopeful for what this exciting chapter holds for the club and its aspirations for the season.