Here’s Where Koivunen Could Fit in Penguins’ Future

CRANBERRY — Ville Koivunen is just one game into his Pittsburgh Penguins career, so it’s impossible to predict with any certainty where he will settle in with them as his time in the NHL moves along.

Still, Koivunen acquitted himself well on the No. 2 line during his debut Sunday, and coach Mike Sullivan suggested after practice Wednesday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that Koivunen has the qualities needed to become a fixture in the Penguins’ top-six in coming seasons.

“I think he has really good offensive instincts,” Sullivan said. “He has a high hockey IQ. I think he’s a competitive guy. When you think in terms of what a top-six forward has, they have those attributes. It’s (too) early to tell. We’ll see where it goes, but we liked his first game. He’s had a real solid season in Wilkes(-Barre). He’s made an impact down there.

“We love … his ability to make a play, and he has a little swagger to him. He plays with moxie. He doesn’t just throw the puck away. He hangs onto pucks, he protects pucks. He sees it pretty good. When you think in terms of what attributes a top-six forward has to play in the NHL, he certainly has them.”

Koivunen remained on the second line, alongside Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar, during practice Wednesday, and is expected to be there when the Penguins visit St. Lous Thursday at 8:08 p.m.

Although that’s a fairly high-profile role for a guy who has 17 minutes, 28 seconds of NHL experience, Koivunen said he’s not stressed about the prominent niche in which he has been placed.

“My strengths are with the puck, so I feel pretty comfortable there,” he said. “It’s been fun.”

The Penguins acquired Koivunen, 21, from Carolina last year in the trade that sent Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes.

Koivunen, who had been a second-round draft choice for Carolina in 2021, was in the midst of a productive season with Karpat in Liiga, Finland’s top league, when the Penguins picked him up.

Carolina did not appear to be actively shopping Koivunen, but was willing to include him in the ransom paid to rent Guentzel for the stretch drive and playoffs.

Consequently, Koivunen was as surprised as most other people when he learned that he’d been dealt.

“I didn’t hear anything from (the Hurricanes),” he said. “(Or) even think about it, at all. It was a surprise for me, but it’s OK.”

Koivunen expressed no hard feelings toward Carolina, which was hoping to contend for the Stanley Cup after getting Guentzel.

“At first I was surprised, but after an hour, maybe, I was pretty happy with this organization,” he said. “I was excited to come here.”

And once he arrived with the parent club, it didn’t take long for Koivunen to observe how the game at this level is different than in the American Hockey League.

“More speed,” he said. “Everything comes a little faster. Also, the players are more skilled, so there aren’t so many mistakes. It’s harder to get a scoring chance.”

Koivunen and fellow forward Rutger McGroarty, who were recalled from Wilkes-Barre last week, are expected to rejoin the Baby Penguins after the NHL season so they can help that team in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Koivunen scored a goal in the 4-3 overtime victory against Hartford last Wednesday that clinched a spot in the postseason for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. And while that club hasn’t won a playoff round since 2016, it has put together an excellent regular season and has the potential to be a factor in the playoffs.

“It’s a really good group there,” he said. “We have fun together. We play together. They’re a skillful team, so I think we have a good chance to make a run there.”