Avalanche Signs Joonas Donskoi

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed unrestricted free-agent forward Joonas Donskoi to a four-year contract through the 2022-23 season.
Donskoi, 27, completed his fourth NHL season with the San Jose Sharks in 2018-19, setting career highs in games (80), points (37), goals (14-tied), game-winning goals (4) and plus/minus rating (+10-tied). He tied for third on the Sharks in plus/minus and tied for fourth in game-winning tallies. The Raahe, Finland, native added three points (1g/2a) in 12 playoff games, which included scoring the winning goal in San Jose's Game 7 victory over Colorado in the second-round series (May 8).

"Joonas is a dependable player who plays 200 feet and uses his speed well in transition," said Avalanche Executive Vice President / General Manager Joe Sakic. "He is coming off his best NHL season and brings playoff experience to our lineup. We are excited to have him under contract for the next four years."
Donskoi has appeared in 283 career NHL games, all with the Sharks, recording 122 points (45g/77a). He has also dressed in 50 career playoff contests, notching 21 points (9g/12a). During his first NHL season in 2015-16, Donskoi skated in all 24 playoff contests and finished second among league rookies with 12 points (6g/6a) in helping the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup Final. That spring he became just the sixth rookie in NHL history to score an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final on June 4 vs. Pittsburgh (Game 3).
Selected by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Donskoi played for Karpat in Finland's top professional league (Liiga) from 2009-15. He helped his team win back-to-back league championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15, winning the Jari Kurri Award as league playoff MVP in 2015. The 6-foot, 190-pound right wing signed with San Jose on May 20, 2015.
Internationally, Donskoi has represented his country at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the 2015 IIHF World Championship, the 2011 and 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2010 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he won a silver medal.