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Avalanche fans in uproar after surprising report on Joel Kiviranta

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Theodore Mosby
December 24, 2025 (8:29)

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Quiet nights still matter, and Joel Kiviranta keeps proving it for the Colorado Avalanche with consistent shifts, smart forechecking, and trust from Jared Bednar.

The Avalanche have spent most of this season chasing lineup stability, and Kiviranta has quietly become part of that answer. The 29 year old winger has not chased highlights, but he keeps giving Colorado clean minutes.

Kiviranta's value shows up between whistles rather than on scoreboards. His reads in the defensive zone are sharp, his routes are predictable in a good way, and he rarely cheats for offense.

Joel Kiviranta brings Avalanche lineup stability.

Colleen Flynn from Mile High Sports writes that Colorado's fourth line has been in flux at times, yet Kiviranta has remained a constant alongside Parker Kelly and Jack Drury. That trio has leaned into puck pressure, clean exits, and forcing mistakes.

Those habits matter for a team that wants its stars starting with the puck. When Kiviranta's line does its job, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen inherit better ice.

Fans notice this kind of player even if the stat line stays quiet. There is comfort knowing that when Kiviranta hops the boards, nothing chaotic is about to happen.

Bednar echoed that sentiment earlier this week, praising Kiviranta's tracking and physical detail. Coaches love players who execute systems without reminders, and Kiviranta fits that description.

He has produced modestly so far, posting three points through 18 games, but context matters. Kiviranta missed time earlier, and his game has never been built around raw scoring totals.

Last season showed his ceiling when things click. He set career highs with 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games, proving offense can come without sacrificing structure.

That balance is why Colorado brought him back on a one year deal. Depth contracts only work when players deliver exactly what is asked, and Kiviranta has done that consistently.

More opportunities may come as the schedule tightens. Injuries and matchup hockey often elevate dependable players into bigger moments, especially during long road swings.

For now, Kiviranta keeps stacking solid nights. The Avalanche know those minutes add up, especially when spring hockey starts demanding fewer mistakes and more trust.

Previously on Colorado Hockey Daily

A sudden surge is sweeping through the Avalanche, and it's not what you expect

Why the Avalanche's win over the Wild proved what we already knew

Gavin Brindley continues to complicate things for the Colorado Avalanche

POLL
DECEMBRE 24 \| 40 ANSWERS Avalanche fans in uproar after surprising report on Joel Kiviranta How important is Joel Kiviranta's consistency for the Colorado Avalanche?
very	17	42.5 %
somewhat	15	37.5 %
minimal	6	15 %
unsure	2	5 %
List of polls

Avalanche fans in uproar after surprising report on Joel Kiviranta

Quiet nights still matter, and Joel Kiviranta keeps proving it for the Colorado Avalanche with consistent shifts, smart forechecking, and trust from Jared Bednar.

Joel Kiviranta brings Avalanche lineup stability.

How important is Joel Kiviranta's consistency for the Colorado Avalanche?