Expecting More

During his second season with Colorado, new Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi scored a career-high 17 goals. He is not satisfied.
"I was lacking in my defensive game last year," said Donskoi (first-last pronounced "YOH-nuhs DAWN-skoy") during a recent Zoom video conference with media. "I am working on getting stronger plus faster with my skating."

That focus on the defensive play (forechecking in the offensive and neutral zones, covering the opponent's counterattack and blocking shots in the defensive zone) is music to Seattle GM Ron Francis' and head coach Dave Hakstol's respective ears. Both want their forwards to be 200-foot forwards who are "responsible" in all three zones.
Donskoi's self-critique for last season likely includes what was a down year for him in terms of blocked shots. He finished with 25 in 51 games in 2020-21 (which trends to 40 in a full 82-game schedule) after notching 38 in 65 games during his first year in Colorado.
The 29-year-old's offseason work in his native Finland figures to double as a power boost for his goals and assists totals on the offensive end of the ice. He has delivered four straight NHL seasons with double-digit goals but is clearly looking to break past the 20-goal marker.

Kraken fans will be happy to know Donskoi is a fast starter.
Donskoi opened the scoring seven times for Colorado in 2020-21, during which the Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular-season record. Nine of Donskoi's goals were in the first period, second behind only Toronto super-scorer Auston Matthews (12).
Donskoi was drafted in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Florida Panthers during the 2010 NHL Draft. He never played for Florida, which relinquished its rights to Donskoi. San Jose took the opportunity in 2015 to sign the Finnish forward, who was posting solid seasons in his home country's top professional league.
After four seasons with the Sharks, Donskoi accepted a free-agent offer from Colorado and witnessed then-teammate and now-teammate, goaltender Philipp Grubauer, "win many games for us when the rest of the teammate was having a rough night."
"Grubi is a difference-maker," said Donskoi, who texted Grubauer right away when the goalie signed with Seattle in the opening hours of NHL Free Agency July 28. "We will have an unbelievable goalie duo with Grubi and [Chris] Driedger. I know Grubi is excited about Seattle."

Donskoi is excited himself about traveling to the Pacific Northwest for the chapter of an NHL career that by all accounts has plenty more ceiling. But first he and his wife, Devin, are anticipating another arrival-the birth of their first child in Finland before heading to Seattle for training camp.
The baby will have plenty of aunts and uncles back home. Donskoi has three sisters and two brothers. Hockey fans who know their European on-ice history will be interested to know the forward has Russian roots from one of his grandfathers.
Donskoi was all smiles about the baby and looking forward to Kraken days ahead.
"Every practice is important," said Donskoi. "Training camps are always huge. You want to be focused, now more than ever. I'm extremely excited."
Donskoi was impressed with the turnout of Kraken fans during the Expansion Draft event at Gas Works Park July 21.
"It was fun to watch, there were so many fans," said Donskoi. "I can't wait to get to work."