Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Finds New Home After Clearing Waivers

Joona Koppanen has cleared waivers and will join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins had waived the depth forward on Monday, per PuckPedia.

To fill the vacant roster spot, defenseman Filip Kral has been recalled to the NHL club, per the AHL Transaction Log, his first call-up of the 2024-25 season.

Koppanen began the year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and stayed there for most of the season, posting seven goals and 22 points in 55 AHL contests, a slight increase from last season's output.

He did make the trek to Pittsburgh for 10 NHL contests in a bottom fourth-line role, registering his first NHL goal in his season debut on March 18, which was his only point at the highest level.

With no club submitting a claim, the six-foot-five Finnish winger will remain in the organization and continue his season in the AHL.

Kral will now have the opportunity to add to his NHL career numbers. The Czech defenseman has scored seven goals and 29 points in 59 AHL games this season, which was good for second on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blue line.

This is Kral's first year in the Penguins organization, after departing the Toronto Maple Leafs in favor of Finland's Liiga last season. Kral posted 37 points in 46 Liiga games after starting the year with just six points in 24 AHL games.