Joel Kiviranta, Avalanche agree to third straight one-year deal

The Colorado Avalanche can’t quit Joel Kiviranta.

The team and veteran left wing agreed to a one-year contract for the third consecutive season, the team announced Friday morning. The salary number was not disclosed.

Kiviranta is coming off a productive year in Colorado, with the 29-year-old Vantaa, Finland, native accumulating 23 points (16 goals, seven assists) over 79 games during the regular season. His postseason performance, however, was a dud statistically with zero points over seven games against his former team, the Dallas Stars.

Still, the Avs couldn’t resist bringing back the depth scorer after he notched three multi-goal performances last season in his best NHL campaign to date. That included a hat trick against Seattle on Dec. 22. He has totaled 32 points in 135 games in his two seasons in Colorado.

“Joel is a hard-working, responsible player who has demonstrated he can be a key contributor at five-on-five,” a statement from Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland read in the release announcing Kiviranta’s signing. “He has been a valuable member of our lineup, and we are excited to have him back for another season.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward will likely cross 300 career NHL games early on this upcoming season. He has 60 points in 298 regular-season games over six NHL seasons. He’s appeared in the playoffs in five of those seasons, totaling 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 51 postseason games.