Penguins Forward Joona Koppanen Signs with SHL’s Lulea Hockey

In a significant move, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Joona Koppanen is set to take his talents overseas, having signed a contract with Lulea Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). This announcement came just a day after the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were knocked out by the Toronto Marlies in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final of the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

Despite being just two wins away from reaching the Calder Cup Final, WBS struggled to find the back of the net during the series, ultimately falling short of their championship aspirations. Koppanen’s departure marks a new chapter in his career as he transitions to a league where he looks forward to making an impact.

“I’m really looking forward to becoming a part of Lulea Hockey and playing in the SHL, where many of my friends have played before and enjoyed it,” Koppanen expressed in a welcoming message from the team.

During his tenure with the Penguins’ organization over the past three seasons, Koppanen played 44 games in the AHL during the 2025-26 season, where he netted eight goals and tallied 25 points. He also made a brief appearance in the NHL, participating in 13 games and recording one assist.

In the previous season, 2024-25, Koppanen scored one goal in 11 NHL games, while accumulating eight goals and 23 points across 56 AHL games. Over the last three years, he played a total of 28 NHL games, contributing two points to the Penguins’ efforts.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.