The Penguins on Tuesday re-signed another one of their pending unrestricted free agents, inking forward Joona Koppanen to a one-year, two-way contract worth the league-minimum $775,000.
Koppanen, 27, saw 11 games at the NHL level last season, the most he's played in the NHL in one season in his whole career. He scored his first NHL goal on March 18 against the Islanders.
Koppanen primarily skated as a wing at the NHL level this season, something he told me helped him better use his speed and physicality.
"I feel I'm getting stronger and faster on the ice, for sure," he told me. "Playing winger, yeah, I had been playing more center. I feel like it helps my forecheck, I can get first on pucks, which is my big strength. ... I'm trying to bring more physicality here. And now, I get more F1 on the forecheck, so I feel like it's easier to be first and then hit the guy, too. You have a little less responsibility for D zones, so you can finish your hits more often."
With the number of forwards under contract and young forwards looking to push their way onto the NHL roster from Wilkes-Barre, it wouldn't be surprising to see Koppanen start the year in the AHL again. He's a valuable depth piece in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording eight goals and 15 assists in 56 games while being one of their better defensive forwards and a key piece on the penalty-kill.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
3:39 pm - 06.17.2025DowntownKoppanen re-signed to one-year deal
The Penguins on Tuesday re-signed another one of their pending unrestricted free agents, inking forward Joona Koppanen to a one-year, two-way contract worth the league-minimum $775,000.
Koppanen, 27, saw 11 games at the NHL level last season, the most he's played in the NHL in one season in his whole career. He scored his first NHL goal on March 18 against the Islanders.
Koppanen primarily skated as a wing at the NHL level this season, something he told me helped him better use his speed and physicality.
"I feel I'm getting stronger and faster on the ice, for sure," he told me. "Playing winger, yeah, I had been playing more center. I feel like it helps my forecheck, I can get first on pucks, which is my big strength. ... I'm trying to bring more physicality here. And now, I get more F1 on the forecheck, so I feel like it's easier to be first and then hit the guy, too. You have a little less responsibility for D zones, so you can finish your hits more often."
With the number of forwards under contract and young forwards looking to push their way onto the NHL roster from Wilkes-Barre, it wouldn't be surprising to see Koppanen start the year in the AHL again. He's a valuable depth piece in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording eight goals and 15 assists in 56 games while being one of their better defensive forwards and a key piece on the penalty-kill.
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