The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned rookie forward Ville Koivunen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Thursday.
In 27 NHL contests this season, Koivunen has five points (two goals, three assists) while averaging 12:41 of ice time per contest. He has primarily been deployed as a right winger on the third line.
This is the second time Koivunen has been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Previously sent to Northeast Pennsylvania on Oct. 11, Koivunen appeared in six AHL games and scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) before being recalled to the NHL club on Oct. 26.
Koivunen, 22, is in the final year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $805,833.