Ville
Koivunen
R · PIT · Defensive · Around average
- PAL
- 50
- WAR
- -0.2
- Value
- 68
- PTS
- 7
2025-26№ 518 / 615
Ville Koivunen (Pittsburgh Penguins) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Ville Koivunen
#41RPlays: Right wing · 1% of faceoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins
HEIGHT : 183 cm · WEIGHT : 84 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : June 12, 2003 · Oulu, Finland
Drafted : 2021 · CAR · round 2, pick #51
Contract : $4,000,000 · 2026-27 → 2033-34 · Standard Contract · UFA · Signing bonus $2,000,000
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 15 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 39 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 2024-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| NHL totals | 62 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 22 | |
Ville Koivunen: our analysis
2025-26 season: 39 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS, -10 +/-, 12:44 TOI. WAR -0.2 (518th of 615) · PAL 50, around average.
In 2025-26, Ville Koivunen, 23, posts a PAL Rating of 50 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of -0.2 ranks 518th among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: defense (87, among the best in the league), possession (82, well above average) and power play (68, above average). On the other hand, offense (4, among the weakest in the league) and creation (20, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.6); his biggest cost: finishing (-3.1).
His WAR went from -0.1 in 2024-25 to -0.2.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 68 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Ville Koivunen's story
He announced himself in the Kärpät junior system, putting up 23 goals and 26 assists in 38 games during the 2020–21 U20 SM-sarja season while serving as an alternate captain — a campaign that earned him Rookie of the Year honours and a spot on the Second All-Star Team. Those numbers marked him as a forward who contributes both goals and playmaking.
In May 2021 he signed a three-year deal with Kärpät and two months later was selected 51st overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. On 15 August 2021 the Hurricanes signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. He broke into the professional ranks in 2021–22 with Kärpät in Liiga and was a finalist for the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy, given to the league's top rookie.
A major trade on 7 March 2024 sent him to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a package that included Michael Bunting, Cruz Lucius, Vasili Ponomaryov and two conditional 2024 draft picks, in exchange for Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith. He opened 2024–25 with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 21 goals and 34 assists in 62 games — the 21 goals were the most by a WBS rookie since Daniel Sprong in 2017–18.
Recalled by Pittsburgh on 29 March 2025, he made his NHL debut the following day against the Ottawa Senators. On 3 April 2025 he notched his first NHL point, the primary assist on Rutger McGroarty's first career NHL goal. He finished the season having appeared in seven NHL games with five assists, and in the AHL he led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in scoring and earned a place on the league's All-Rookie Team.
Viewed through his junior and AHL production, his game reads as that of an offensively-minded forward who blends goal scoring with setting up teammates — a player whose stats reflect both finish and creation.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 13:54
- PP TOI/GP
- 1:51
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:02
- Pts/GP
- 0.40
- EV points
- 5
- Hits
- 0
- Blocks
- 5
- Takeaways
- 1
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 52.5 %
- Off. zone starts
- 46.7 %
- Faceoffs
- 66.7 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
18between 6 and 29 (80% range)
- Goals
- 5
- Assists
- 13
- Games
- 54
So far: 6 pts in 15 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.32 pts per game (last season: 0.18).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
Out· Lower Body· expected back November 11
OV · OverallConfidence 36 %
65
Depth
- SK
- Skating
- 61
- Confidence 57 %
- ST
- Strength
- 76
- Confidence 42 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 66
- Confidence 50 %
- DU
- Durability
- 49
- Confidence 57 %
- CK
- Checking
- 61
- Confidence 42 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 78
- Confidence 22 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 71
- Confidence 42 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 72
- Confidence 36 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 61
- Confidence 36 %
- DF
- Defense
- 85
- Confidence 32 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 62
- Confidence 14 %
- EX
- Experience
- 39
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating61
- Top speed (35 %)34.8 · 55
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)3.826 · 65
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.6 · 85
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.4 · 49
ST — Strength76
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.836 · 83
- Body mass (50 %)-0.909 · 67
EN — Endurance66
- Ice time per game (45 %)13.9 · 68
- Total ice time (20 %)483 · 53
- Shift length (15 %)46.2 · 76
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)13 · 72
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.659 · 67
DU — Durability49
- Share of games played (100 %)0.615 · 49
CK — Checking61
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.953 · 67
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.594 · 68
- Season volume (10 %)1.792 · 42
FG — Fighting78
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.895 · 78
DI — Discipline71
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.006 · 70
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.661 · 75
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.693 · 71
PA — Passing72
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.512 · 61
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.539 · 79
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.066 · 74
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)5.308 · 85
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.32 · 64
SC — Scoring61
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.634 · 58
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.785 · 69
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.396 · 64
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.244 · 71
- xG per shot (10 %)0.081 · 78
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)13 · 70
DF — Defense85
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.038 · 79
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.293 · 92
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.42 · 86
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.036 · 79
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.206 · 81
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.2 · 80
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.285 · 75
PS — Penalty shot62
- Shootouts (60 %)31.2 · 61
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience39
- Career regular-season games (65 %)55
- Career playoff games (25 %)0
- NHL seasons (10 %)37
OV — Overall65
- SC · Scoring (28 %)61
- PA · Passing (22 %)72
- DF · Defense (18 %)85
- SK · Skating (12 %)61
- EN · Endurance (8 %)66
- DI · Discipline (5 %)71
- ST · Strength (4 %)76
- CK · Checking (3 %)61
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.2
wins above replacement
518 of 615
PAL Rating
50/ 100
Performance · Around average
225 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
68/ 100
Good value
0.81 M$ · expected PAL 33
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 23
- Defense
- 85
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 4
- Creation
- 20
- Shooting
- 26
- Possession
- 82
- Defense
- 87
- Discipline
- 27
- Power play
- 68
- Penalty kill
- 29
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
64/ 100
Average
better than 64% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
41/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
74/ 100
Very good
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 151 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 6
- Shot selection
- 77
- Penalties drawn
- 23
- Puck management
- 64
Defense
- Takeaways
- 89
- Discipline
- 49
- Safe zone exits
- 38
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.2
wins above replacement
-0.5 to 0.1 — 90% interval
518 of 615 forwards
-1.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +0.2
- EV defense
- +0.6
- Power play
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- -3.1
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Average → replacement
- +1.3
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | PIT | 39 | -0.2 | -0.5 to 0.1 | 518/615 |
| 2024-25 | PIT | 5 | -0.1 | -0.3 to -0.0 | 480/596 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 124.9 km/h24th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.5 km/h31st percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 618th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 44.7 %78th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 52.2 km41st percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.38 km44th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 42.6 %77th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.5 %70th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 36.9 %81st percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1232nd percentile | 254th percentile | 16.7 %66th percentile |
| High danger | 646th percentile | 157th percentile | 16.7 %43rd percentile |
| Mid range | 442nd percentile | 177th percentile | 25.0 %88th percentile |
| Long range | 272nd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
LAK
BOS
VGK
MTL
UTA
NSH
FLA
COL
CHI
CBJ
WSH
WPG
PHIVille Koivunen: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Ville Koivunen have in 2026-27?
Ville Koivunen has 2 goals and 6 points (4 assists) in 15 games in 2026-27.
How old is Ville Koivunen?
Ville Koivunen is 23 years old: he was born on June 13, 2003.
How tall is Ville Koivunen, and how much does he weigh?
Ville Koivunen is 6'0" (183 cm) and weighs 185 lb (84 kg).
Where is Ville Koivunen from?
Finland: Ville Koivunen was born in Oulu, Finland.
What team does Ville Koivunen play for?
Ville Koivunen plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL, at R, wearing number 41.
Is Ville Koivunen injured?
Yes: Ville Koivunen is injured and out (lower body). He is expected back around November 11.
How good is Ville Koivunen?
Ville Koivunen produced -0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 518th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 50 out of 100: around average for his position.
How much does Ville Koivunen make?
Ville Koivunen earns $806K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 68 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Ville Koivunen's contract end?
Ville Koivunen's contract runs through the 2033-34 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Ville Koivunen overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 68 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Ville Koivunen a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 518th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
How has Ville Koivunen played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Ville Koivunen has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists).
What are Ville Koivunen's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Ville Koivunen has 62 games, 4 goals, 16 assists and 20 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 7 points in 39 games.
Where was Ville Koivunen drafted?
Ville Koivunen was drafted 51st overall (round 2) by Carolina Hurricanes in 2021.
Is Ville Koivunen better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.50 points per game at home (3 in 6 games) and 0.33 on the road (3 in 9 games).
How does Ville Koivunen perform in the playoffs?
Ville Koivunen has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Which player is most similar to Ville Koivunen?
Josh Samanski: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Josh Samanski's page →Is Ville Koivunen a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 18 points in 2026-27, or 0.33 points per game.
What is Ville Koivunen's nationality?
Ville Koivunen is Finnish. Internationally: Represented Finland: Finland U18 at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships (4 goals and 6 assists in 7 games); Finland junior team at the 2022 World Junior Championships — silver medal.
What awards has Ville Koivunen won?
U20 SM-sarja Rookie of the Year, 2020–21 ; U20 SM-sarja Second All-Star Team, 2020–21 ; Finalist for the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy (Liiga rookie of the year), 2021–22 ; Named to the AHL All-Rookie Team, 2024–25.
How many championships has Ville Koivunen won?
1: Silver medal at the 2022 World Junior Championships with Finland.
Where did Ville Koivunen play before turning pro?
Oulun Kärpät junior team — U20 SM-sarja, 2020–21; signed a three-year contract with Kärpät in May 2021.
How many points is Ville Koivunen projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 18 points in 54 games in 2026-27 (6 to 29 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)