BREAKING: Penguins Recall Forward from AHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a move on Tuesday, promoting Joona Koppanen from the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The sudden elevation could see Koppanen playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets, depending on the availability of Jansen Harkins due to an upper-body injury.

With trade talks buzzing ahead of Friday's deadline, Koppanen's call-up raises eyebrows. As the Penguins gear up to potentially offload at least one forward, Koppanen might just secure a spot in the NHL lineup for the remainder of the season.

Joona Koppanen Gets the Call-Up

Drafted 135th overall in the 2016 NHL draft, the 26-year-old Finn has had a taste of NHL action before, playing three games earlier this season and five with the Boston Bruins last year. However, his main stint has been in the AHL, where he's tallied five goals and 16 points in 49 games this season alone.




Over his seven-year career in the AHL, Koppanen has accumulated 294 games, netting 44 goals and 109 points. Now thrust into the big leagues, he could find himself slotting into a bottom-six role, especially with the potential departure of Jake Guentzel.

As trade rumors swirl and the deadline looms, all eyes will be on Koppanen to see how he fares in the NHL spotlight.