Avalanche sign Finnish forward to 1-year deal

The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Jere Innala to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2024-25 season.

Innala earned 28 points in 42 regular-season games with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League this season. The 26-year-old tied for most goals and ranked fourth in points for the team. He added 15 points in 14 playoff games before Frolunda was eliminated in the semifinals. 

The Hauho, Finland native posted two goals and three assists in eight games for his country at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He won a gold medal playing for Finland in 2022 and silver in 2021. 

In his two seasons with Frolunda, the 5-foot-9 left-wing tallied 54 points in 94 regular-season games and 20 points in 24 postseason games. Prior to joining Frolunda, Innala played for the SM-Liiga’s HPK and HIFK programs from 2016-22, where he earned 181 points in 290 regular-season games.

Innala had a career-high season in 2018-19 with 24 regular-season goals and 11 points in 18 Liiga playoff games to help HPK earn the league championship.