Dec 7, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Jesse Puljujarvi (18) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Jesse Puljujarvi Faces Hearing After Illegal Hit on Mitchell Chaffee

Panthers winger Puljujarvi could miss playoff action after a headshot on Lightning’s Chaffee sparks disciplinary review.

Florida Panthers forward Jesse Puljujarvi is in hot water with the NHL after a controversial hit in the final minutes of Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 26-year-old was handed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Lightning winger Mitchell Chaffee, and now faces a disciplinary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

The incident occurred midway through the third period, with 11:32 remaining. Chaffee had just carried the puck into the offensive zone when Puljujarvi delivered a hard shoulder hit that directly connected with Chaffee’s head. The impact sent Chaffee to the ice immediately, drawing a strong reaction from both teams. A scrum broke out moments later, with Panthers forward Nico Sturm and Lightning’s Zemgus Girgensons squaring off and dropping the gloves in defense of their teammates.

Here’s the hit by Jesse Puljujarvi on Chaffee that resulted in a match penalty for a hit to the head.

Puljujarvi will be suspended folks pic.twitter.com/4sbmEVtNVj
— NHL Review (@nhl_review) April 16, 2025

The Panthers went on to lose the game 5-1, a disappointing end to their regular season. But the attention quickly shifted from the scoreboard to the looming consequences Puljujarvi could face. If the NHL decides to issue a suspension, Puljujarvi will miss the beginning of the playoffs—an unfortunate blow for a player still trying to regain footing in the league.

This was only Puljujarvi’s fifth game with the Panthers. He joined Florida’s AHL affiliate earlier this year on a professional tryout after his contract was terminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s since been trying to carve out a spot on the NHL roster, showcasing glimpses of the talent that made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Puljujarvi’s journey in the NHL has been far from smooth. Originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, expectations were high for the young Finnish winger. But his development didn’t go as planned, and after several up-and-down seasons in Edmonton, he found himself moving through different teams including the Carolina Hurricanes, Penguins, and now the Panthers. Over 387 career games, Puljujarvi has recorded 128 points, with 58 goals and 70 assists.

In the current season, he has tallied 10 points in 31 games split between the Penguins and Panthers. The recent hit and potential suspension come at a time when he’s striving to prove he still belongs in the league.

The Panthers now enter the postseason without clarity on whether Puljujarvi will be available, and the hit has once again raised discussions around player safety and head contact. As the NHL reviews the play, fans and teams await the decision that could impact Florida’s playoff depth and Puljujarvi’s career resurgence.

Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Florida Panthers

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!