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Surprising Young Forward Expected to Play Alongside Sidney Crosby This Season
Photo credit: Edit from PensBurgh
Surprising young forward Ville Koivunen is expected to play alongside Sidney Crosby on the Penguins' top line for the upcoming 2025-26 regular season.
Ville Koivunen has a catch-all phrase when talking about hockey: "pretty cool." It's fitting, because just about everything has been pretty cool for the 22-year-old Finn in the past year.
How was it coming to North America for the first time?
"Pretty cool."
What was it like playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season?
"Pretty cool."
What about getting a chance to skate on a line with Sidney Crosby?
"Pretty cool."
- Ville Koivunen
"Pretty cool."
What was it like playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season?
"Pretty cool."
What about getting a chance to skate on a line with Sidney Crosby?
"Pretty cool."
- Ville Koivunen
After a jump across the Atlantic last season, Koivunen didn't waste much time making an impact at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he paced the Penguins' AHL affiliate with 56 points (21 goals, 35 assists) in 63 games.
Ville Koivunen Played Alongside Sidney Crosby in April, and it's Expected That it Will Happen Again This Season
That earned him an early-April promotion to Pittsburgh, where he recorded seven assists in eight NHL appearances. Much of the success was a byproduct of playing with franchise cornerstone Sidney Crosby.
Most younger players, by nature, want to turn the play over to Crosby, but Koivunen struck the right balance: when to let the captain do his thing and when to rely on his own instinct.
That poise and confidence stood out, particularly since he was acquired in the high-profile trade that dispatched Jake Guentzel to Carolina in March 2024.
Koivunen continued that this preseason with three points (two goals, one assist) in five games. His play probably cemented a spot on the Penguins' opening-night roster as he starts his first full season with the NHL club.
"You're watching him your whole life, then you can play with him on the same line and same power-play (group). Pretty amazing."
- Ville Koivunen
- Ville Koivunen
Milestones are accumulating for Koivunen, and each one, he believes, has been quite cool.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 6 | 57 ANSWERS Surprising Young Forward Expected to Play Alongside Sidney Crosby This Season Is it a good idea to have Ville Koivunen play alongside Sidney Crosby? | ||
| Yes | 53 | 93 % |
| No | 4 | 7 % |
| List of polls | ||