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Pittsburgh Penguins two-way depth role player Joona Koppanen leaves team for Lulea HF
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Josh Erickson says Joona Koppanen, a Pittsburgh Penguins depth forward, is headed to Lulea HF, and that screams offseason roster churn.
Koppanen is 28, a 2016 fifth-round pick by the Boston Bruins, and he is finishing a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level with no clause reported.
He played 10 NHL games for Pittsburgh this season and posted 0-1-1. In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he put up 6-10-16 in 31 games.
That is the data punch. The bigger read is that Kyle Dubas keeps trimming the roster edges.
Koppanen gave Pittsburgh size, penalty-kill utility, and safe fourth-line minutes. He never forced his way into a regular job.
For Tuesday in Carolina, this changes nothing on the NHL sheet. For the summer, it removes one more fringe-UFA decision.
A $775,000 depth contract is easy to carry, but just as easy to replace. That matters when Pittsburgh is weighing youth, speed, and lineup flexibility.
Joona Koppanen never solved Pittsburgh's bottom six
Penguins fans know the feeling, big frame, honest shifts, not enough offense to end the search.
Since June, the club treated him like insurance more than a fixture. The two-way structure said that out loud.
For a Penguins site, that is the real angle. Those depth minutes can now lean toward a younger or more skilled bet.
Pittsburgh enters Tuesday at 32-17-14, second in the Metro, so the next roster calls are about pace and finishing, not familiarity.
If Lulea gets him, it is a sensible move for the player. If Dubas moves on, it is honest roster math before a big offseason.
This rumor feels small, but smart teams win by auditing the small spots first. Pittsburgh's next move matters more than this exit.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 10|78 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins two-way depth role player Joona Koppanen leaves team for Lulea HF Should Kyle Dubas use Joona Koppanen's expected Lulea HF move to go younger in the bottom six? | ||
| Yes | 59 | 75.6 % |
| No | 19 | 24.4 % |
| List of polls | ||