Penguins' Future Face of the Franchise is Not Who You Think it is

Overall, the 2024/25 season was a major disappointment for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and after the team has already moved on from Mike Sullivan as Head Coach, many more changes could be on the way.

For many fans, that means looking towards the future, and with Rutger McGroarty being brought in last summer in a blockbuster deal with the Winnipeg Jets, with most of them seeing him as the future of the organization.

The former Carolina Hurricanes prospect came into this year as a solid piece of the future, but after 2024/25, many see him as a potential superstar after he lead the WBS Penguins in scoring (6th overall in the AHL), while also tallying the most goals on the team since back in 2017/18.

Standing at 5-foot-11, the talented 21-year old is certainly promising, but this season he took a major step forward, and after playing in 8 games (tallying 7 assists in that time) with the NHL club this season, it's clear that the organization things very highly of him as well.

After being acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade, it's fitting that Koivunen had the most points in the first 8 games of a Penguins players career since Guentzel back in 2016/17, showing that his game translates to the next level.

In two AHL playoff games, Koivunen posted 2 assists as the WBS Penguins were swiftly eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs, but at this point in time, it's hard to deny the potential, and if he makes the team out of camp this year, the Penguins may have a superstar on their hands.