Former Boston Bruins prospect Joona Koppanen has been placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins as the NHL season approaches, signaling potential movement to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Over the past few years, securing a spot on the Bruins’ NHL roster has been challenging for many prospects, with only a few, like Matthew Poitras, John Beecher, and Mason Lohrei, successfully making the cut. For others, such as Jakub Lauko, their future with the team was limited, leading to trades or departures in free agency.
As the regular season nears, teams across the league, including the Bruins, are placing players on waivers to either reassign them to their AHL teams or make room for other players on the NHL roster. Waivers are a routine part of the final roster preparations, allowing teams to send unclaimed players to their minor league affiliates. This process caught up with Koppanen, who, after being placed on waivers by Pittsburgh, seems set to return to the AHL for another season.
Koppanen’s career with the Bruins began when he was drafted 135th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He had moments of success with the Bruins’ organization, particularly in his last two seasons in Providence. In the 2021-22 season, he recorded 11 goals and 19 assists, while the following year he slightly improved with 12 goals and 23 assists in just 35 games. However, his performance dipped last season with Pittsburgh’s AHL team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he managed six goals and 15 assists in 58 games.
Koppanen’s NHL experience is limited but notable. During the Bruins’ record-setting 2022-23 regular season, he played in five games, contributing an assist and delivering eight hits across his average ice time of 10:50 per game. His size was an asset, with the 6-foot-5 forward using his physicality on the ice. However, after leaving Boston, he saw less ice time in his brief stint with the Penguins, averaging just 7:49 over four games.
With Koppanen now on waivers, it’s unlikely he will be claimed by another NHL team, and he is expected to return to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. However, depending on how the season progresses, there is always a chance that he could be recalled to the NHL if the Penguins need additional depth, especially given his previous experience.
The Bruins have also been active in placing their own players on waivers, recently waiving Michael DiPietro, Vinni Lettieri, and Jordan Oesterle. These moves, like Koppanen’s, reflect the broader roster adjustments teams are making in the lead-up to the regular season. For Koppanen, while his path in the NHL has been uneven so far, returning to the AHL with the Penguins offers him another opportunity to prove himself and possibly earn another look at the NHL level.
In summary, Joona Koppanen’s move to waivers signals another step in his ongoing career development. His return to the AHL could provide him the chance to refine his game and work toward another NHL opportunity, whether with the Penguins or elsewhere.
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