Olli Juolevi, who was selected as the 5th overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 NHL draft, has faced a tumultuous journey during his NHL career. Despite his early promise, he managed to appear in only 41 games and contribute just three points in the league.
During the recent offseason, the Arizona Coyotes extended a lifeline to Juolevi by offering him a PTO contract. However, it appears that Juolevi's last opportunity to make a mark in the NHL has slipped through his fingers, as the Coyotes announced his release earlier today.
Juolevi's selection as the 5th overall pick in 2016 had placed him ahead of several notable players, including Matthew Tkachuk, Clayton Keller, and Mikhail Sergachev. In hindsight, the Canucks may regret that decision, as having any of those three players instead of Juolevi could have potentially altered the trajectory of their playoff aspirations but these things are unpredictable.
