Mile High Sticking
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Colorado Avalanche : Reviewing the New Guys

By Will Cooper

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 07: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his third goal of the game against the Nashville Predators with teammates Andre Burakovsky #95, Nazem Kadri #91 and Cale Makar #8 as hats fall from the stands at Pepsi Center on November 07, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 9-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 07: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his third goal of the game against the Nashville Predators with teammates Andre Burakovsky #95, Nazem Kadri #91 and Cale Makar #8 as hats fall from the stands at Pepsi Center on November 07, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 9-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Joonas Donskoi

Last season (SJS): 14G; 23A – 37 Pts; +10 rating in 80 GP.

This season: 13G; 14A – 27 Pts; +6 rating in 30 GP

Cap Hit – $3,900,000

Donskoi is on pace to add at least 50% to last season’s production, when he was playing for San Jose. The big problem he faced in that organisation was the limited ice time, due to players further up the pecking order.

This has been well and truly addressed, with Sakic creating an entire new second line for this season and the results are plain to see.

Given that there have been substantial injuries to the wingers on the first line, Donskoi has benefited from seeing ice time alongside MacKinnon, which while probably representing a slight decline in his production numbers with the return of Rantanen and Landeskog, I think that we will still see a marked increase in the career numbers for the 27 year old Finn.

He should still be able to approach his career high of 25 assists from his Rookie year, but being only 1 goal away from last season’s career high, that should prove easy to surpass, hopefully before the end of 2019.

Donskoi has benefited from increased minutes on the Power Play, with a career high of 4 PPG already this year. How much this is down to playing alongside MacKinnon, I am sure we will see as the season progresses.

Quarter-Season Grade: B

“Hold on Will, that’s a little harsh, isn’t it?” I hear you cry. Not really, as Joonas is playing as advertised. He has justified his $3.9 million salary well enough, but he could shoot the puck more (57 shots in 30 games) which would lead to more goals.

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