Colorado Avalanche Free Agency: Joonas Donskoi Brings Speed, Creativity

The Colorado Avalanche added a capable winger with their main free agency signing (so far) of 2019, former Shark Joonas Donskoi.

The Colorado Avalanche didn’t make a big splash in free agency, but they did add a speedy winger, Joonas Donskoi. The Finn spent four years playing for the San Jose Sharks.

Many Avs fans, at least on Twitter, were somewhat underwhelmed by the acquisitions GM Joe Sakic made today. Colorado went all-in on Artemi Panarin, but he ultimately chose the New York Rangers for personal reasons.

I’ll go into a full analysis of today’s signings and options moving forward once the dust has settled. For today’s haul, barring any surprise moves, Joonas Donskoi is the central piece.

So, let’s see what he brings to the table.

Joonas Donskoi Statistics

Position: Right wing
Age: 27
Size: 6’0″, 190 pounds
2018-19 Statistics: 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 80 regular-season games; 3 points (1* goals, 2 assists) in 12 playoff games
Previous Contract: 2-year standard contract, $1.9 million cap hit
New Contract: 4-year standard contract, $3.9 million cap hit

*That goal was the series-clinging goal against the Avs, but we shouldn’t hold that against him.

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Joonas Donskoi has played four years in the NHL, all with the San Jose Sharks. He’s played 283 regular-season games, recording 45 goals and 77 assists for a total 122 points. He’s three times recorded 30+ points.

In the playoffs, Donskoi has played 50 games. He’s recorded 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points. Four of those goals are game winners, including that one this last season against Colorado.

Donskoi is the type of player who drives possession, which seems to be one of his biggest contributions. Last year he had a CorsiFor of 54.4, and he’s been above 50% in each of his four years with the NHL.

Here are a couple advanced stats tweets about Donskoi:

If I’m reading those charts right, Donskoi isn’t just an average meat and potatoes kind of guy. He’s maybe a fancier cut of meat, like prime rib, and maybe those fancy blue potatoes from Peru.

Brief Joonas Donskoi Bio

The Florida Panthers drafted Donskoi 99th-overall in 2010. However, the Panthers eventually relinquished his rights, and the Sharks signed Donskoi to his entry-level contract. He was 23 at the time. Two years later, they signed him to a two-year standard.

Joonas Donstoi made the Sharks team out of camp his rookie year. He also scored his first-ever NHL goal in his first-ever NHL game.

He can play either wing position.

Now, there’s not too much more just in his career bio. However, it does appear that Joonas Donskoi has two cats, named Lily and Finn. Here’s the video where he introduces his feline companions:

He’s also really into cars.

Joonas Donskoi and the Colorado Avalanche

According to Sports Forecaster, Joonas Donskoi is an extremely good skater. That skating allows him to create plenty of offense on the rush. He’s also got good puck skills.

Here’s a small sample of Donskoi’s skating and shooting ability:

Avs insider Adrian Dater says Donskoi can be a streaky player, but one who “goes hard to the net and plays an aggressive style of game.”

There’s no point in speculating how exactly Joonas Donskoi will slot into the lineup. Coach Jared Bednar uses camp to see who makes the team and what lines are working. He also mixes lines up during games.

However, I see Joonas Donskoi as a second- or third-liner. Maybe he could be the winger to anchor Tyson Jost, along with Andre Burakovsky or one of the roomies. It all depends on whom he finds chemistry with and whose skills his complement.

In all, I don’t find this acquisition to be a bad one. Donskoi is only 27, so he won’t be too long in the tooth when the contract runs out. I think the Colorado Avalanche made a good signing.