Even with a big contract, Penguins forward Ville Koivunen knows he has to ‘earn the spot’

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ville Koivunen acknowledged that he must continue working to earn his spot in the lineup despite signing an eight-year, $32 million contract in August. The 23-year-old Finnish forward, who added roughly 11 pounds of muscle during the offseason, has recorded two points in five games this season while also being a healthy scratch twice due to the team's forward depth.

Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas described the long-term deal as an investment in Koivunen's development and offensive potential. Acquired in the March 2024 trade that sent Jake Guentzel to Carolina, Koivunen previously starred in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but coach Dan Muse and team management emphasize that he must continually fight for ice time.