The Teemu Pulkkinen era in Minnesota could soon be over.
Before it ever got started, really.
After scoring just once for the Wild since being claimed off waivers, Pulkkinen was placed back on the wire on Friday, per TVA.
The 24-year-old, originally a fourth-round pick by Detroit in 2010, bounced around the Wild lineup during his brief stint with the club, averaging just over nine minutes per night.
His productivity was minimal, to put it mildly -- widely regarded for his cannon of a shot, which saw him post two 30-goal seasons with AHL Grand Rapids, Pulkkinen only mustered four shots on goal in eight games with Minnesota, who acquired him on Oct. 11 from Detroit.
He’ll be an interesting figure to watch moving forward.
Though some of his luster has undoubtedly worn off after getting waived twice in a month, he’s still a reasonably young player with a proven goalscoring record (in the minors, granted) on a reasonably cheap contract -- one year, at $812,500.
Here’s wondering if Detroit would be interested in re-acquiring his services.
“I have an unreal amount of respect for him as a player and as a person,” head coach Jeff Blashill said of Pulkkinen earlier this month, per MLive. “Teemu has to score goals. You hate to be results-orientated, but when you’re not big and you’re not fast and your weapon is your shot you have to score goals.
“That’s what made him a difference-maker at the American League level and I still think he can be a difference-maker at this level. That time isn’t right now.”