Recent Top-5 Draft Pick Opens Up on Potential Career-Ending Surgery

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Dawson McKenzie
September 9, 2023 (11:54)

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Recent top-5 draft pick Jesse Puljujarvi opens up regarding his potentially career-ending surgery that happened this offseason.

Puljujarvi Talks on Surgery

In a recent news interview with a Finnish media outlet, Puljujarvi shared some of his experience recovering from his double hip replacement.

The most difficult phase of all was 2.5 weeks after the operation. In the beginning it was just being able to walk. Now let's slowly start to wake up the muscles. There are 20-centimeter incisions on both sides of the buttocks. Now they are constantly trying to gain strength and mobility. It gets better every week

A double hip replacement is a long and arduous recovery, as Puljujarvi highlights. It is a long rehab process, that could see Puljujarvi out for a lengthy period.

Puljujarvi's NHL Career in the Balance

Puljujarvi wasn't offered a qualifying offer by Carolina prior to his surgery and is now a UFA, however, he hasn't heard from any NHL teams. This isn't lowering his spirits, though, as he is confident that teams are waiting for him to get healthy again.

So far, nothing has been heard from the NHL, when everyone knows that it will take many more months to get fit. I know that there is some interest in the NHL, but let's wait until I get closer to playing condition.

His future in the NHL is definitely uncertain as of now and relies heavily on his ability to regain his health. However, with the right recovery, Puljujarvi could easily find himself back in the NHL.

As seen on Hockey Patrol - "Finnish Top Five Pick Could Have His NHL Career End This Year"

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SEPTEMBRE 9 \| 65 ANSWERS Recent Top-5 Draft Pick Opens Up on Potential Career-Ending Surgery Will Puljujarvi make a return to the NHL?
Yes	32	49.2 %
No	33	50.8 %
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