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Penguins’ Rakell Out Long-Term after Surgery, Koivunen Recalled
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- Penguins’ Rakell Out Long-Term after Surgery, Koivunen Recalled
Penguins’ Rakell Out Long-Term after Surgery, Koivunen Recalled
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell will miss eight weeks with an injury, and the team has recalled forward Ville Koivunen from the AHL, the team announced on Sunday.
Rakell suffered the left-hand injury during Saturday's shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets when he was hit by a shot early in the third period. Rakell underwent successful surgery on his left hand, which was performed by Dr. John Fowler and team physician Dharmesh Vyas at UPMC Mercy Hospital.
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Rakell, 32, has appeared in nine games with the Penguins this season, scoring three goals and recording five assists. He had been on the team's first line alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust .
After he was injured on Saturday, Evgeni Malkin and Filip Hallander rotated through his spot on the top line.
An eight-week timeframe would have Rakell returning to the Pittsburgh lineup around the end of the year. Rakell is in the fourth year of a six-year, $30 million contract.
Ville Koivunen
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, Ville Koivunen: Photo courtesy of the Hershey Bears
Koivunen, 22, was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. A 6-foot, 184-pound forward from Oulu, Finland, the Penguins acquired Koivunen in the trade that sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Panthers in 2024. He played eight games with Pittsburgh at the end of last season, recording seven assists.
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Koivunen started the 2025-26 season in Pittsburgh, playing in two games without a point. He started the season on Crosby's line but was demoted to the third line before being sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when Rust was activated from the injured reserve.
Since his demotion, Koivunen played in six games for the AHL Penguins, scoring four goals, which tied him for the team lead, and recording seven assists.
The post Penguins' Rakell Out Long-Term after Surgery, Koivunen Recalled appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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