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Colorado Avalanche: Joonas Donskoi 2018-2019 Season in Review

By Nadia Archuleta

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 24: Joonas Donskoi #27 of the San Jose Sharks gets set for the face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on February 24, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. San Jose defeated Detroit 5-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 24: Joonas Donskoi #27 of the San Jose Sharks gets set for the face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on February 24, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. San Jose defeated Detroit 5-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Joonas Donskoi did not play for the Colorado Avalanche last season. However, here’s his season in review for the Sharks.

The Colorado Avalanche signed 27-year-old right wing Joonas Donskoi to a four-year contract worth $3.9 million annually in this summer’s free agency. Donskoi has played four years in the NHL, all with the San Jose Sharks.

I didn’t watch any Sharks games except for when the Avs were playing them, and then I wasn’t watching with an eye to evaluating the talent of their Finnish winger. However, let’s look at some stats and video to get a feel for how Donkoi’s 2018-19 season went.

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Donskoi played 80 regular season and 12 playoff games with San Jose last year. In the regular season, he recorded 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points. The playoffs saw him get a goal and two assists for three points.

Donskoi averaged 13:25 of ice time per game in the regular season, a career low by a few seconds. His CorsiFor was 54.4% with a -0.2 Relative Corsi.

Joonas Donskoi put 115 shots on goal last season and attempted a total of 187. His shooting percentage was at 12.2%, which is a career high for him. The 14 goals matched a career high, while his 37 points set the career high. He also scored four game-winning goals, another career high.

His takeaway to giveaway ratio was in the negative — 24:38. He blocked 36 shots and laid 36 hits.

In the playoffs, his ice time actually decreased by a minute to 12:26 average. His takeaway to giveaway ratio was a little better, 5:6. He made two blocks and three hits. Joonas took 11 shots, attempted a total of 26, and recorded a shooting percentage of 9.1%. His lone playoff goal was the game-winner — against Colorado, on May 8. 😒

Well, let’s relive that goal since he’s our scorer now:

Ok, well, I obviously don’t like that he scored on the Avs. However, I like that he was strong on the puck. I appreciate his sharp spin move ending in a wicked wrist shot. I wouldn’t mind seeing some of that magic with him wearing burgundy and blue.

In fact, Donskoi is scouted as a player with good hand-eye coordination and puck skills. That’s certainly in evidence in the above goal.

Here’s another example of his puck skills:

That’s just a pretty play. I love his stickwork.

Donskoi is also scouted an extremely good skater who can “create plenty of offense off the rush due to his skating ability.” That’s right in the Colorado Avalanche’s wheelhouse, so I wanted to find an example of such a goal from this last season.

And I did:

Another aspect of Donskoi’s game is his creativity in setting up teammates to score. Here’s an example of a no-look backhand pass that finds Timo Meier, who proceeds to score:

Once again we have an example of Donskoi being dogged on the puck.

dark. Next. Meet Jonas Donskoi

So, like I said, it’s hard to judge Joonas Donskoi’s 2018-19 season since it was with the San Jose Sharks. However, it looks to me like he had a solid showing with what he was given — what would be third line minutes on the Colorado Avalanche and no special teams.

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