Joonas Donskoi

Lore & Background

Donskoi began playing junior hockey at age five with Teräs-Kieko in Raahe, moving to Oulu at 15 to join Oulun Kärpät's SM-sarja team in 2007–08. He signed a three-year SM-Liiga contract with Kärpät in April 2009 and made his Liiga debut on 11 September 2009. After being drafted by the Panthers, he played for Kärpät through 2015, winning Finnish championships in 2014 and 2015 and earning the Jari Kurri Trophy as playoff MVP in 2015.

Donskoi signed with the San Jose Sharks in May 2015 and scored his first NHL goal in his first game on 7 October 2015. He helped the Sharks reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring the overtime game-winner in Game 3. After two more seasons with San Jose, he signed a four-year, $15.6 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on 1 July 2019. With Colorado, he recorded his first career hat-trick on 7 November 2019 and a second hat-trick on 31 March 2021, the latter being the fastest three goals to start a game in franchise history (7:31).

Selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, Donskoi struggled offensively in 2021–22. He suffered a concussion during a preseason game in 2022 and missed the entire 2022–23 season, announcing his retirement on 27 August 2023 due to concussions.

Reader's Guide

Donskoi's career is defined by his journey from Finnish junior hockey to becoming a reliable middle-six forward in the NHL. His most significant achievement came in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, where his overtime goal in Game 3 gave the Sharks their first Finals win in franchise history. Though San Jose ultimately lost the series, the moment cemented Donskoi's place in Sharks lore. With the Avalanche, he provided scoring depth and set a franchise record for fastest three goals to start a game. His international career included a bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships and representing Finland at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Donskoi's retirement due to concussions at age 31 cut short a career that spanned 474 NHL games, but his contributions—particularly his clutch playoff performances and versatility across three NHL teams—left a lasting impression. His selection by the Kraken in the expansion draft also marked him as a notable piece of Seattle's inaugural roster.

Did You Know?

• Donskoi scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on 7 October 2015 against Jonathan Quick.
• He scored the fastest three goals to start a game in Colorado Avalanche history (7:31) on 31 March 2021.
• Donskoi won the Jari Kurri Trophy as playoff MVP in the 2014–15 Liiga season.