Kiviranta signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Stars on Wednesday.
Kiviranta will have a second stint with Dallas after playing there from 2019-20 to 2022-23. He's coming off a down year of nine points, 50 shots on net and 63 hits over 51 regular-season games with the Avalanche in 2025-26. Kiviranta will contend for bottom-six minutes in 2026-27, giving him limited potential in fantasy.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Option for Game 4
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) will be an option for Game 4's road matchup against Minnesota on Monday, Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports reports.
After missing the last five games due to injury, Kiviranta was a full participant in Monday's practice. It's unclear if he will play in Game 4 against the Wild, but Kiviranta is in the mix for a bottom-six role.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Possible for Monday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) is a possibility for Monday's Game 4 matchup against Minnesota, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Kiviranta has resumed skating and participated in Sunday's practice. He has missed the last five games. Kiviranta hasn't earned a point in two appearances this postseason, but he has posted three shots on net and five hits.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Still isn't skating
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) hasn't resumed skating yet, according to Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports on Sunday.
Kiviranta appears poised to miss his third straight outing against Minnesota in Sunday's Game 1 matchup. He is dealing with a day-to-day injury, but continuing to miss skates doesn't bode well for his progress. It's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Dealing with injury
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) is day-to-day, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports Saturday.
Kiviranta missed the final two games of Colorado's first-round series win over the Kings. He hasn't been practicing, and it's unclear if he will be an option for Game 1 of Round 2 against Minnesota on Sunday. Kiviranta hasn't earned a point in two appearances this postseason while chipping in three shots on goal and five hits.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Adds insurance goal
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Kraken.
Kiviranta saw 14:20 of ice time Thursday, setting a season high for the second game in a row. He's getting a bigger role while the Avalanche are depleted by injuries on the wings. The 29-year-old is at three goals, nine points, 32 shots on net, 48 hits and a plus-2 rating across 34 appearances. Kiviranta may have a little extra appeal while seeing more ice time, but he won't come close to replicating the pace that saw him log 16 goals and 23 points in 79 regular-season outings a year ago.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: First point since return
Rotowire
Kiviranta logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Sunday's 3-2 shootout win over the Wild.
This was Kiviranta's first point in his second game back from a concussion. The 29-year-old winger has eight points, 28 shots on net, 47 hits and a plus-1 rating over 32 appearances this season. After the Avalanche bolstered their forward group at the trade deadline, Kiviranta is likely to be limited to fourth-line minutes moving forward.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Expected to return Friday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (concussion) is slated to return to the lineup Friday in Dallas, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Kiviranta was injured against Minnesota on Feb. 26 and has missed the last three games. The 29-year-old has two goals, five assists and 45 hits over 30 games this season.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: In concussion protocol
Rotowire
Kiviranta is in the concussion protocol, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports Saturday.
Kiviranta sustained the injury during Thursday's game against Minnesota. He will miss Saturday's match versus Chicago, but being in the concussion protocol means he will probably miss additional time. Zakhar Bardakov will likely play regularly on the fourth line during Kiviranta's absence.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Slated to miss Saturday's game
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) isn't expected to play Saturday versus Chicago, per Colleen Flynn of Colorado Hockey Now.
Kiviranta is considered day-to-day after sustaining the injury during Thursday's game against Minnesota. He has two goals and seven points in 30 appearances in 2025-26. Zakhar Bardakov is expected to draw back into the lineup due to Kiviranta's absence.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Undergoing evaluation
Rotowire
Kiviranta is undergoing an evaluation for an undisclosed injury sustained Thursday versus the Wild, Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports reports.
Kiviranta was injured on a second-period hit. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now. If he can't play Saturday versus the Blackhawks, expect Zakhar Bardakov to replace Kiviranta in the lineup.
Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Scores in Thursday's loss
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal and added two hits in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Canadiens.
Kiviranta picked up his first goal and second point over four games since he returned from a lower-body injury. The winger is up to two goals, six points, 18 shots and 35 hits through 25 appearances. Kiviranta will continue to fill a primarily defensive role in the Avalanche's bottom six -- don't expect him to approach the pace that yielded 16 goals and 23 points in 79 regular-season outings last year.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Nabs helper Sunday
Rotowire
Kiviranta notched an assist and two hits in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.
This was Kiviranta's second game back after he missed 10 due to a lower-body injury. He's reclaimed a fourth-line role since his return. Kiviranta's at five points, 17 shots on net, 33 hits and a plus-1 rating over 23 appearances in 2025-26. Without an uptick in offense, Kiviranta is poor option for most fantasy formats.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Returning against Flyers
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) will be in action versus Philadelphia on Friday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Kiviranta returns following a 10-game stint on injured reserve due to his lower-body injury. The 29-year-old winger has scored just once in 21 outings with the Avs this year, but will slot into the bottom six for Ross Colton, who was ruled out with a lower-body problem of his own.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Targeting Friday return
Rotowire
Head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that he hopes Kiviranta (lower body) will be able to return for Friday's game against the Flyers, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Kiviranta remains on injured reserve and has missed the last nine games. However, it appears he's closing in on a return to action. If he's able to suit up for Friday's matchup, that would allow him to appear in NHL games for nearly two weeks leading up to the Olympic break. Kiviranta has made 21 appearances for the Avalanche this year, recording a goal, three assists, 30 hits and six PIM while averaging 9:29 of ice time.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Placed on injured reserve
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) was put on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
Kiviranta hasn't played since Dec. 29, so he can be activated whenever he's healthy. His move to IR was likely to accommodate the Avalanche's recall of Alex Barre-Boulet from the minors Monday. Kiviranta has a goal and four points in 21 appearances in 2025-26.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Is week-to-week
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) is considered week-to-week, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports Thursday.
Kiviranta is still expected to be ready for the Olympics, which does emphasize that his time on the shelf will be measured in weeks, not months. The Finnish forward has a goal and four points in 21 outings in 2025-26. Zakhar Bardakov is likely to remain in the lineup while Kiviranta is unavailable.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Senators, Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports reports.
Kiviranta didn't travel with the Avalanche during their recent road trip, and he'll remain sidelined as the team returns home Thursday. However, head coach Jared Bednar said Thursday that Kiviranta is expected back well before the Olympic break, so the 29-year-old seems unlikely to be facing a long-term absence.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Not on road trip
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) didn't accompany the Avalanche on the team's three-game road trip, which begins against Carolina on Saturday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Kiviranta also didn't play in Wednesday's 6-1 win over St. Louis, and he doesn't have a timeline for his return to the lineup. However, head coach Jared Bednar hopes that the 29-year-old forward can return after the trip, which ends against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Kiviranta has chipped in one goal, three assists, 13 shots on net and 30 hits across 21 appearances this season.
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