The Pittsburgh Penguins have thrown down a big marker with restricted free agent Ville Koivunen, locking him up on an eight-year, $32 million contract with a $4 million annual average value.
It’s the kind of deal that can ripple beyond Pittsburgh, and for the New York Islanders, the timing matters. Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom are both set to become restricted free agents after the 2026-27 season, and a contract like this only raises the price tag if the Islanders want to go long-term on both players.
Koivunen is 23 and has only 47 career NHL games under his belt. He played 39 games this past season and finished 2025-26 with two goals and seven points. For his career, he has five more assists, leaving him at 47 games, 2 goals, 10 assists and 12 points.
That’s what makes the Penguins’ move so striking. An eight-year commitment at that number is a hefty bet on projection, especially for a player who hasn’t proven much yet at the NHL level. But if Koivunen grows into a dependable middle-six forward, Pittsburgh will likely feel a lot better about the contract as the cap keeps climbing.
For the Islanders, the deal adds another layer to their own contract puzzle. Heineman, 24, scored 22 goals and finished with 31 points this season. Holmstrom has put up 39 goals and 86 points over the last two seasons.
If Heineman were to sign long-term now, this Koivunen contract could be used as a benchmark and push him toward at least another $1.5-2 million per year on an eight-year deal, minimum. And if New York waits and Heineman puts together another 20-plus goal season while continuing to round out his offense, the number could climb even higher.
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