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Penguins sign 23-year-old Koivunen to 8-year deal

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article image - AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
AP photo Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) beats Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Dec. 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins made a significant investment in their future on Thursday, signing forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract worth $4 million annually.

Koivunen, 23, was a restricted free agent. The deal signals Koivunen is an important part of the franchise as it navigates the twilight of the careers of icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

The Finnish-born Koivunen, acquired in a March 2024 trade with Carolina that sent Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes, had two goals and five assists in 39 games with Pittsburgh during the 2025-26 season.

Koivunen excelled in the playoffs for Wilkes-Barre, Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate, collecting four goals and five assists in nine games to help the club to the conference finals.

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