1. Joel Kiviranta, LW
When it comes to the Avalanche, particularly this season, irregulars have had to step into the lineup since Game 1. That includes Joel Kiviranta. Among the lineup changes we’ve seen was defenseman Oliver Kylington going from defense to a wing spot, and Joel Kiviranta being placed on the top left wing spot with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
Throughout the season, Kiviranta has impressed fans as well as head coach Jared Bednar. Nathan MacKinnon has also sung the praises of Kiviranta, deeming him “awesome” when the two played on the top line together.
Kiviranta has four goals in 11 games, while also averaging 10:53 of ice time per game through that time. Two of his goals came against the Seattle Kraken on October 22nd.
Giving Kiviranta time on the first line will help him improve his game, and chemistry with MacKinnon. We’ll see what kind of an impact the return of Arturri Lehkonen and Jonathan Drouin makes at some point. Either way, the experience is very important given that an injury can happen at any given time in any given game.