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Pittsburgh Penguins Sign 23-Year-Old Forward Ville Koivunen to an Eight-Year Deal

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed restricted free agent forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year, $32 million contract with an average annual value of $4 million.
Pittsburgh acquired the Finnish-born Koivunen from the Carolina Hurricanes in a March 2024 trade involving forward Jake Guentzel, positioning him as a long-term middle-six piece.
During the 2025/26 season, Koivunen posted two goals and seven assists in 39 National Hockey League games while recording 41 points in 34 games with the American Hockey League affiliate, Wilkes-Barre.
Beyond his regular-season play, Koivunen excelled for Wilkes-Barre during the AHL playoffs, collecting four goals and five assists in nine games to help the affiliate reach the conference finals.
Integrating youth alongside established stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remains central to the organization's strategy as it transitions past its veteran core, with this signing reflecting management's confidence in Koivunen's long-term development.

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DK's Double Shot of Penguins: The Kid at 39!

DK Pittsburgh Sports: Daily podcasts on Steelers, Penguins, Pirates! discuss the Penguins’ eight-year extension for Ville Koivunen while marking Sidney Crosby’s 39th birthday

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Aftonbladet

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14 Points in Two Seasons – Gets 300 Million

Ville Koivunen, 23, has scored 14 points in 47 NHL games for Pittsburgh. For that, the Finn is rewarded with an eight-year contract – worth 300 million kronor. The deal is causing surprise in North America.

11 days ago·Stockholm, Sweden

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Times Leader

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WBS Penguins standout Koivunen gets 8-year contract from Pittsburgh

Ville Koivunen was one of the AHL’s most productive forwards during his stints in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season.

12 days ago·United States

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Dominion Post

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Pens sign Koivunen to 8-year deal

PITTSBURGH — 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 […]

12 days ago·Wellington, New Zealand

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New York Post

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NHL world shocked over Penguins’ $32 million Ville Koivune deal: ‘Crazy gamble’

The Penguins signed forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year, $4 million contract, sparking backlash over his limited NHL production.

12 days ago·New York, United States

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NDTV

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Pittsburgh Penguins Reward Restricted Free Agent Ville Koivunen With Long-Term Deal

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.

12 days ago·New Delhi, India

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