Pittsburgh Penguins’ Risky Investment in Ville Koivunen

The NHL offseason has seen several noteworthy signings. The Philadelphia Flyers pressured the Anaheim Ducks into a significant commitment to Leo Carlsson, while Patrick Kane returned to the Blackhawks with a favorable contract. Meanwhile, Macklin Celebrini secured a lucrative deal with the San Jose Sharks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, however, made one of the most surprising moves. They offered a substantial eight-year, $32 million contract to Ville Koivunen, a player with only 47 NHL games under his belt. Koivunen scored 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 39 games last season.

This contract raises eyebrows due to Koivunen’s limited NHL experience and modest production. The Penguins management, led by GM Kyle Dubas, sees potential in Koivunen that warrants this investment. Yet, this decision carries significant risk.

Koivunen’s promising performance with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL may have influenced the Penguins’ decision. He recorded 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games last season. Additionally, Koivunen showed strong form in SM-liiga in Finland.

Investing in a player with solid AHL and SM-liiga results but limited NHL impact is a gamble. Should Koivunen thrive in the NHL, this contract could prove beneficial for the Penguins.

Looking ahead, the Penguins might have a limited window with their veteran core, including Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Sidney Crosby. Crosby’s team-friendly $8.7 million AAV deal is well-known, but changes are inevitable as these contracts conclude.

Should Koivunen’s NHL performance not improve, the Penguins may face difficulty finding a team willing to take on his contract.

Matthew Reigle contributes to OutKick with analyses like this one on NHL developments.