Joel Kiviranta is one of the best remaining names on the NHL’s free market.

Sportsnet’s expert Luke Fox listed the 29-year-old Finnish forward as the 7th best remaining free agent. There were no other Finns on the list of over 20 players.

Kiviranta has had his most productive season in the NHL. The player from Vantaa scored 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games with the Colorado Avalanche.

Fox believes Kiviranta will be heading to another NHL team this season for a bigger paycheck. Kiviranta earned the NHL minimum salary last season, which is $775,000.

– Kiviranta played better in his second season with the Avalanche than what is expected from a player earning under a million dollars. He broke his own records for goals, assists, and plus-minus (+15). The player, who received the nickname Finland’s Gretzky after his surprising hat trick in Dallas in 2020, is expected to receive a pay raise outside of Colorado.

– Numerous teams could use him in lower lines, Fox writes.

Kiviranta has played in the NHL since the 2019-20 season. He represented the Dallas Stars for four seasons before moving to Colorado.

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