The Penguins will be without one of their forwards in tonight's game against the Islanders. While the optional skate didn't provide any clues as to who is sidelined, Mike Sullivan said that "some guys that are nicked up" necessitated the emergency recall of Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Koppanen isn't just insurance -- he told me after the skate that he'll be in the lineup tonight against the Islanders.
Koppanen, 27, is in his second year in the Penguins' organization, having been signed to a two-year contract in the 2023 offseason. Aside from four games up in the NHL last season, his time in the organization has primarily been in Wilkes-Barre, where he's a defensive, checking, bottom-six center and a mainstay on the penalty-kill. He's able to chip in offensively as well, putting up six goals and 15 assists in 53 games this season and identical totals in either category in 58 games last season.
The ability to kill penalties, as well as play both center and wing if needed, makes Koppanen an appealing option if he's stepping into the bottom six. But that's secondary to the real reason he earned the recall.
"The biggest reason, quite honestly, is because he's played real well," Sullivan said.
Koppanen is a combined plus-5 in the Wilkes-Barre's last four games, and he had a pair of goals in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with the first coming shorthanded.
I asked Koppanen what he thinks is behind his own good stretch of play lately, and he said, "Our whole team has been playing better and better, and I've been playing with the same guys so we've found a little connection there. I'm just finding my game more, too."
The parts of his game Koppanen is hoping to show in this opportunity are to "bring my forecheck here, get pucks back for our line and get some O-zone draws for other lines. Hopefully, if I can get on the PK, I can help there."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
4:37 pm - 03.18.2025Cranberry, Pa.Koppanen looks to bring hard forechecking
The Penguins will be without one of their forwards in tonight's game against the Islanders. While the optional skate didn't provide any clues as to who is sidelined, Mike Sullivan said that "some guys that are nicked up" necessitated the emergency recall of Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Koppanen isn't just insurance -- he told me after the skate that he'll be in the lineup tonight against the Islanders.
Koppanen, 27, is in his second year in the Penguins' organization, having been signed to a two-year contract in the 2023 offseason. Aside from four games up in the NHL last season, his time in the organization has primarily been in Wilkes-Barre, where he's a defensive, checking, bottom-six center and a mainstay on the penalty-kill. He's able to chip in offensively as well, putting up six goals and 15 assists in 53 games this season and identical totals in either category in 58 games last season.
The ability to kill penalties, as well as play both center and wing if needed, makes Koppanen an appealing option if he's stepping into the bottom six. But that's secondary to the real reason he earned the recall.
"The biggest reason, quite honestly, is because he's played real well," Sullivan said.
Koppanen is a combined plus-5 in the Wilkes-Barre's last four games, and he had a pair of goals in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with the first coming shorthanded.
I asked Koppanen what he thinks is behind his own good stretch of play lately, and he said, "Our whole team has been playing better and better, and I've been playing with the same guys so we've found a little connection there. I'm just finding my game more, too."
The parts of his game Koppanen is hoping to show in this opportunity are to "bring my forecheck here, get pucks back for our line and get some O-zone draws for other lines. Hopefully, if I can get on the PK, I can help there."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!