San Jose Sharks Sign Finnish Forward Joonas Donskoi
Feb 2, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; The San Jose Sharks player skates onto the ice prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Sharks made an actual roster move on Wednesday afternoon amidst all the head coaching rumors and buzz. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson announced the signing of free-agent forward Joonas Donskoi from Finland to an entry-level contract.
Donskoi, a six-foot, 190-pound prospect, was originally drafted in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Florida Panthers during the 2010 NHL Draft but he failed to sign with the club. Donskoi spent last season playing for Karpat of the Finnish Liiga, which is the top professional hockey league in Finland.
In 58 games this past season, Donskoi registered 19 goals and 30 assists and was a plus-13. Donskoi elevated his game even further during the playoffs as he received the Jari Kurri Award as the Liiga’s MVP during the playoffs. In helping Karpat win the Liiga Championship, Donskoi registered six goals, including two game-winning goals, and 16 assists, while leading all skaters with a plus-15 rating.
Also, Donskoi recently competed for Team Finland at the 2015 IIHF World Championships in Prague. Donskoi put together a dynamic tournament, leading Finland with five goals, while adding three assists and a plus-four rating. Donskoi is also known for his shootout capabilities which he also put on display in Prague.
Shootout phenomenon confirmed. pic.twitter.com/ShjtA8WPPZ
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) May 20, 2015
This is another shrewd signing by Wilson as Donskoi looks like a prospect who could come in and compete for a roster spot right away. He’s a seasoned player having played more than 270 games against men in Finland and also held his own against top competition at the world championships. This move is very similar to the Melker Karlsson signing from last season, and Karlsson ended the season on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.
While it might be expecting too much for Donskoi to end up on San Jose’s top line, the Sharks may have found another solid prospect from overseas as Wilson continues to add young talent to San Jose’s roster.