Pittsburgh Penguins sign Ville Koivunen to eight‑year, $32 million contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced an eight‑year, $32 million extension for Finnish forward Ville Koivunen, averaging $4 million per season. Koivunen, 23, has appeared in 47 NHL games with two goals and 14 points, but has been a point‑per‑game player in the AHL, tallying 97 points in 97 games for the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton affiliate. He was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the March 2024 trade that sent Jake Guentzel to Carolina. General manager Kyle Dubas said the deal is a “long‑term investment” and highlighted Koivunen’s bright future and work ethic. The contract is one of the longest in Penguins history, comparable to extensions given to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, and comes as the NHL salary cap continues to rise. A new collective‑bargaining agreement will limit future extensions to seven years, making this possibly the last eight‑year deal of its kind. Analysts note the agreement is risky given Koivunen’s limited NHL production, but the team views him as a key piece of its future as veteran stars age.