In a move that could shake up the Penguins' roster, the Pittsburgh organization announced on Friday afternoon that they have placed forward Joona Koppanen on waivers. The key question now is whether any other NHL team will claim him. If no team claims Koppanen by 2 p.m. on Saturday, he will then be eligible to be assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team in the American Hockey League (AHL), which is the Penguins' primary farm system.
Koppanen, who shoots left-handed, was called up to the NHL roster on November 6. His role has been mainly on the left wing of the third and fourth lines. In total, he has appeared in 10 NHL games, recording one assist and averaging about 12 minutes and 15 seconds of ice time per game. Despite being a consistent part of the lineup earlier in the season, he has recently been scratched from the lineup, including the last two games. Most notably, in the Penguins' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Koppanen was sidelined due to illness.
For further context, here are some related insights:
- A video review played a crucial role in the Penguins' dramatic win against Tampa Bay, highlighting how close calls can turn games around.
- Kirk MacDonald is making a significant impact as the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, guiding the team to successive wins and even helping players earn spots in the NHL.
- Sports analyst Mark Madden has sparked debate by arguing that roster construction should be a higher priority than rink size for the U.S. Olympic team.
Koppanen, now 27 years old, previously cleared waivers on October 3 and was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During his time in the AHL, he has mainly been used as a bottom-six center. In six games there, he has accumulated two points—one goal and one assist.
Earlier this year, in June, Koppanen re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year deal valued at $775,000 at the NHL level, indicating the organization’s continued interest in his development.
Seth Rorabaugh, a seasoned reporter for TribLive specializing in the Penguins, has been covering the team since 2007 and is based in North Huntingdon. Since joining Trib in 2019, he has provided in-depth coverage of Penguins news and can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
