Joona Koppanen

Last updated

Joona Koppanen
Joona Koppanen.jpg
Koppanen with the Boston Bruins in 2017
Born (1998-02-25) 25 February 1998 (age 27)
Tampere, Finland
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Pittsburgh Penguins
WBS Penguins  (AHL)
Ilves
Boston Bruins
NHL draft 135th overall, 2016
Boston Bruins
Playing career 2017present

Joona Koppanen (born 25 February 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Koppanen was drafted by the Boston Bruins, 135th overall, in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

Koppanen played his youth hockey in his native Finland within local club, Ilves. In impressing through the Under-20 Junior A level, Koppanen was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round, 135th overall, in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

On 14 April 2017, Koppanen was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. [1] He was initially returned on loan by the Bruins to his original club, Ilves, to make his professional debut in the 2017–18 season. Appearing in 45 games, Koppanen collected 2 goals and 14 points with Tampere before suffering elimination. On 14 March 2018, he was reassigned to make his North American debut in joining the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence. [2]

Entering the final season of his entry-level contract with the Bruins, on 22 September 2020, with the North American season to be delayed, Koppanen was loaned by Boston to join his original Finnish youth club, KOOVEE of the Mestis, to begin the 2020–21 season. [3] Showing his offensive acumen, Koppanen registered 6 goals and 17 points in 10 games before he was elevated on loan to affiliate and former club, Ilves of the Liiga, on 28 October 2020. [4]

On 11 January 2023, Koppanen was recalled by the Bruins. He made his NHL debut against the Seattle Kraken on 12 January 2023. [5] Koppanen collected his first NHL point on 22 January 2023, on a Nick Foligno goal against the San Jose Sharks. [6] He was sent back down to the AHL after five games. [7]

Leaving the Bruins organization at the conclusion of the season, Koppanen was signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on 1 July 2023. [8]

On 17 June 2025, Koppanen signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Penguins. [9] [10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2015–16 Ilves Jr. A409172614
2016–17IlvesJr. A382331541862462
2017–18 Ilves Liiga 45212148
2017–18 Providence Bruins AHL 102020
2018–19 Providence BruinsAHL452026
2018–19 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 70114
2019–20 Providence BruinsAHL43991814
2019–20 Atlanta GladiatorsECHL51452
2020–21 KOOVEE Mestis 106111710
2020–21 IlvesLiiga133252
2020–21 Providence BruinsAHL213362
2021–22 Providence BruinsAHL621119302020110
2022–23 Providence BruinsAHL6412233526402217
2022–23 Boston Bruins NHL 50114
2023–24 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL586152122
2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL40000
2024–25 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL56815232420002
2024–25 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL111010
Liiga totals585141910
NHL totals201124

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014 Finland U17 4th61012
2015 Finland IH18 4th51010
2016 Finland U18 Gold medal icon.svg70002
2018 Finland WJC 6th53140
Junior totals235164

Awards and honours

AwardYear
Jr. A
First All-Star Team2017
Saku Koivu Award2017

References

  1. "Bruins sign Joona Koppanen to a entry-level contract". Boston Bruins. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. Mark Divver (14 March 2018). "Koppanen joins Providence". Twitter . Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  3. "Joona Koppanen joins KOOVEE on loan" (in Finnish). KOOVEE. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. "Joona Koppanen on loan with Ilves" (in Finnish). Ilves. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  5. "Bruins' Loss Doesn't Damper Joona Koppanen's NHL Debut". 13 January 2023.
  6. "Bruins rookie spotlight: Joona Koppanen". thehockeywriters.com. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  7. "Bruins re-assign Koppanen to Providence". Boston Bruins. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. "Penguins sign forward Joona Koppanen to two-year contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. "Penguins' Joona Koppanen: Inks two-way deal". CBSSports.com. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  10. "Penguins re-sign forward Joona Koppanen to one-year, $775K contract". Sportsnet.ca. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.