Oilers scratch Puljujarvi amid trade chatter, expected to send him to AHL

Jesse Puljujarvi was scratched from the Edmonton Oilers' lineup against the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

It was not due to injury, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector, who noted earlier in the day that the key to the Oilers' acquisition of Sam Gagner from the Vancouver Canucks is that Edmonton will now send Puljujarvi down to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.

The decision to sit him came less than 24 hours after the 20-year-old forward's agent suggested a change of scenery would be beneficial and the day after TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported the Oilers were open to trading him.