We continue our look into young players who have the most to prove this upcoming season. Already having looked at the Atlantic and Central, next up is the Metropolitan.

Every team has one, if not several, players seeking a rebound in 2026-27. This series focuses specifically on those returning to their same team, under 25 years old, no longer true prospects but still working to meet their potential. As a result, not every club has candidates who so closely align, and three standout names from each division are selected.

Ville Koivunen – Pittsburgh Penguins

The 23-year-old had a relatively split campaign between the big club and AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, with production starkly different between the two. He impressively finished second in “Baby Penguin” point totals with 41 points in 34 games, essentially half the work as his teammates who suited up for 65+ contests. It was naturally harder for the Finn in the NHL despite his mostly smooth transition to North American ice, skating in 39 games with seven points on 12:44 a night. That sounds pretty typical for any youngster trying to find his way into the NHL for good. So what’s so special about Ville Koivunen and his situation? The winger was signed to an eight-year extension with a $4MM AAV, making him the longest-signed player on the team.

One can say it’s pretty safe for Koivunen to plant roots in the Steel City, so his “prove-it” status is tied to his shocking contract. It was a massive bet on a forward with 47 games under his belt. Offering versatility on the wing, even assuming the 6’0″ lefty’s offensive game is still a work in progress, questions will be raised if he doesn’t see significant time in the NHL this season. Pittsburgh already has a logjam up front, meaning Koivunen will have to fight for a spot each night, needing to prove his worth to settle general manager Kyle Dubas‘ bet. With elite AHL scoring ability as a skilled playmaker with a heavy shot, there’s still top-six upside. Even if that ceiling is never met, Koivunen’s keen hockey sense and improving physicality mean he should be a valuable middle-sixer for years to come. Already with expectations as the key piece brought back in the Jake Guentzel trade, and now a big ticket to his name, there’s no single player with more to prove who isn’t even a guarantee to make his team out of camp.

Matvei Michkov – Philadelphia Flyers

At just age 21 with 51 points in 81 games last year, Matvei Michkov is far from pushing 25 and fighting for an everyday role in the NHL. Still, omitting the top 2023 draft prospect from our list would just be a disservice based on what is at stake. Entering the final year of his entry-level contract, the upcoming campaign will be everything for his future in Philadelphia, and if things don’t go to plan a split may become inevitable. PHR has already broken down what the Russian faces in 2026-27 , needing to hit the ground running this fall and cement himself as a winger with elite top-six upside. Reportedly coming into camp last year out of shape (per Kevin Kurz of The Athletic) and immediately seeing fewer minutes out of the gate under new head coach Rick Tocchet, Michkov thankfully started to find his stride after the Olympic break with 22 points in his last 26 games to close the season.

His Flyers impressively ended a five-year playoff drought, leaving an opportunity for the dynamic youngster to rise on the big stage. Unfortunately it did not happen as he came away with just one assist in eight games, with ice time cut down to 11:50. Michkov was scratched in both the Pittsburgh and Carolina series as Tocchet shuffled lines and focused on a more sound lineup. It’s nowhere near a desperate situation for the Flyers; Michkov actually ranks fourth among 2023 draftees in total points with 114 in 161 games, compared to his seventh overall selection. A learning curve was expected for a player thought to be as high as second-best in that class behind Connor Bedard. However, it’s time to put the growing pains in the rear-view mirror. To prove Philadelphia right for calling his name three years ago, he’ll need to lock down a top-six role alongside Trevor Zegras, a player who once had his own question marks. The duo will be tasked with sparking the power-play, with Michkov in need of a breakthrough to surpass his 63-point rookie effort.

Kent Johnson – Columbus Blue Jackets

The forward has 274 NHL games under his belt, and hasn’t played in the AHL since November 2023, yet much like Michkov above, Kent Johnson‘s status can’t be ignored after a brutal 2025-26 season. The 2021 fifth overall pick had just 22 points in 76 games, with average ice time cut down over four minutes from the year prior, down to 13:14. Entering the final year of his three year contract worth $1.8MM per season, it’s now or never for the British Columbia native to prove himself as a top-six mainstay in Columbus. Listed as a center, it’s safe to say Johnson has become a winger, as he has lined up for just 21 draws over the last three seasons combined. Experiencing bad luck with a shooting percentage down to 6%, his underlying numbers were more encouraging, with a 56.4% on-ice expected goals per Moneypuck.

The Blue Jackets picked up Valeri Nichushkin over the summer, otherwise not overly active after a season which ended with harsh comments from head coach Rick Bowness on the team’s culture. Banking on in-house pieces to build off a 40-win season which came short of the playoffs, there’s no player in Columbus with more of a “make-or-break” situation than Johnson, who turns 24 in October. Fully capable of becoming a 70-point contributor, he’ll need to get back to a gear found two years ago, breaking out with 57 points in 68 games which was third on the roster. Somewhat symbolic of the team as a whole, the hype that existed a few years ago is getting to a crucial point, and if Johnson cannot solidify himself as a top-six producer this season a change of scenery will be in order.

Image Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect