Ville Koivunen’s Goal Drought Is Frustrating - But Far From a Red Flag for the Penguins
Ville Koivunen is one of the more intriguing young pieces in the Pittsburgh Penguins' system - a player with the kind of offensive instincts and vision that make you sit up a little straighter when he’s on the ice. The skill is real.
The flashes are there. But through 23 NHL games across two seasons, he’s still searching for that elusive first goal.
And yes, at this point, it’s starting to feel like the hockey gods are just messing with him.
The thing is, it’s not like Koivunen isn’t getting the looks. He is.
Especially recently. Over the past few games, he’s been buzzing around the net, generating chances, making the right reads, and putting himself in the right spots.
The puck just hasn’t cooperated.
Most of his NHL minutes have come alongside rookie center Ben Kindel, and that duo has been quietly excellent when it comes to driving play. You want underlying numbers?
They’ve got them - and they’re impressive. In 86 minutes together at 5-on-5, Koivunen and Kindel have controlled 67% of expected goals, 68% of scoring chances, and 66% of high-danger chances.
That’s not just good. That’s elite territory.
From a possession standpoint, they’ve been one of the Penguins’ most effective lines, tilting the ice and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. That matters.
It’s not as flashy as a goal on the scoresheet, but it’s the kind of foundation that leads to long-term success. And it’s a big reason why the Penguins are still optimistic about Koivunen's upside.
Now, the Penguins have added another young name to that mix - Rutger McGroarty, who made his season debut on Monday and slotted in on the wing with Koivunen and Kindel. The early returns?
Encouraging. That trio - quickly dubbed “The Kid Line” - brought energy, creativity, and chaos to the offensive zone against Philadelphia.
They were relentless on the forecheck, constantly creating chances, and looked like a group that could cause real problems for opponents.
McGroarty’s size and scoring touch could be the missing ingredient on that line. He brings a finishing element that might help unlock Koivunen’s playmaking even further - and maybe, just maybe, help him finally get that first goal.
Because, let’s be honest, Koivunen needs one. Not just for the scoreboard, but for his own sanity.
And probably for the fans’, too. You can see the frustration starting to bubble over.
He’s had point-blank chances snuffed out by great saves. He’s seen shots blocked or deflected at the last second.
And late in Monday’s game, after forcing a turnover and leading a 2-on-1 rush, he had a golden look - and completely whiffed on the shot. It was a tough moment for a player who’s clearly gripping the stick a little too tight right now.
That kind of thing wears on a player, especially a young one. You don’t need to be a body language expert to see it - the head drops, the stick taps the glass, the shoulders slump on the bench.
It’s not about effort. It’s about confidence.
And right now, Koivunen’s is clearly taking a hit when it comes to finishing plays.
But here’s the thing: this kind of start isn’t unprecedented. Since 2005-06, 114 forwards have started their NHL careers with at least 23 games without a goal.
Sure, many of them didn’t pan out. But there are also some pretty big names on that list.
Rickard Rakell. David Krejci. Brad Marchand.
Josh Bailey, Andrew Mangiapane, Rich Peverley. All guys who eventually found their stride and carved out solid - even standout - NHL careers.
Some were late bloomers. Some just needed the right fit.
But they all started slow and eventually figured it out.
Even players like Darren Helm, Johan Larsson, and Freddy Gaudreau - not stars, but steady contributors - took time to find their niche. Koivunen’s skill set doesn’t scream “grinder” or “fourth-line plug,” but the point stands: early struggles don’t define a career.
And despite the lack of goals, Koivunen hasn’t been a liability. Far from it.
He’s been a positive presence on the ice, helping drive play and create offense. The vision, the hands, the hockey IQ - it’s all there.
He just needs that one goal. That one bounce.
That one moment where the puck finds the back of the net and the weight lifts off his shoulders.
Because once it happens, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few more follow. No, Koivunen may never be a 30-goal scorer - his game leans more toward playmaking and puck distribution than pure finishing - but there’s got to be some goal production in there. He’s too skilled, too smart, and too involved in the offense for the goose egg to last forever.
So, for now, the Penguins will keep rolling with “The Kid Line,” and they should. There’s chemistry there.
There’s upside. And there’s a real chance that line could grow into something meaningful - not just for this season, but for the future of the franchise.
And maybe, just maybe, Ville Koivunen finally gets that monkey off his back. Because when he does, don’t be surprised if the floodgates open.