Joel Kiviranta

Joel Kiviranta (born March 23, 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career On 12 November 2013, Kiviranta made his Liiga debut playing with Jokerit against the Espoo Blues during the 2013–14 Liiga season.

In the 2018–19 Liiga season, his fifth year with Vaasan Sport, Kiviranta tallied 31 points in 48 games. His 16 goals were third on the team however he was unable to propel Sport to the post-season.

Undrafted, Kiviranta used his NHL-out clause with Sport to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on 1 June 2019. His first NHL goal was an even strength goal against the New Jersey Devils on 1 February 2020, against the goaltender Louis Domingue to give the Dallas Stars a 2–1 lead, and they went on to win the game in overtime 3–2.

On 4 September 2020, Kiviranta, who was called up as a Black Ace for the Stars, substituted in for injured Stars forward Andrew Cogliano in the seventh and decisive game of the Second Round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche. He helped send the Stars into the Conference Finals by scoring a hat-trick, including the game-winning overtime goal.

On 31 July 2021, the Stars re-signed Kiviranta to a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension.

On 28 August 2023, Kiviranta agreed to a professional tryout with the Avalanche to attend their 2023 training camp. He was released from the agreement on 5 October, but was invited to attend the training camp of the Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. On 11 October, the Eagles signed Kiviranta to a one-year contract. He began the 2023–24 season with six points in ten games. On 12 November, the Avalanche signed Kiviranta to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. He made his debut for the team on 15 November, recording one goal and two assists in an 8-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Despite the initial offensive outburst, Kiviranta settled into a fourth-line utility role, and continued with the Avalanche for the remainder of the season, finishing with 3 goals and 9 points through 56 regular season appearances. In the playoffs, Kiviranta was originally slated to be a healthy scratch, however was inserted into the lineup through injury to Jonathan Drouin. Known to elevate his game in the post-season, he added a goal and assist through the first-round series win over the Winnipeg Jets. He finished with 8 appearances as the Avalanche fell to former club, the Dallas Stars, in the second-round.

As a pending free agent, Kiviranta was re-signed by the Avalanche to a one-year, $775,000 contract for the season on 1 July 2024. He suited up in 79 regular-season games and set career-highs with 16 goals and 23 points while and notching his first two career game-winning goals. Kiviranta also registered his first three career multi-goal performances, two of which took place in the month of December. Among them was Kiviranta’s first career regular-season hat trick in a 5-2 victory against the Seattle Kraken on 22 December 2024.

Kiviranta made his 100th regular season appearance with the Avalanche on 11 January 2025, and in the post-season he registered 1 assist through 7 games in suffering a playoff exit to former club, the Dallas Stars, for the second consecutive season.

Having completed his contract, Kiviranta was an un-signed after a month into free-agency before opting to return for a third year with the Avalanche in re-signing to a one-year, $1.25 million contract for the season on 8 August 2025.

On 1 July 2026, Kiviranta left the Avalanche as a free agent and returned to the Dallas Stars for the season in agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract.

International play

Kiviranta was selected to make his senior international debut with Finland at the 2019 IIHF World Championship held in Bratislava, Slovakia. He finished with 2 goals and 3 points in 9 games to help Finland claim the gold medal in a victory over Canada on May 26, 2019.

He represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 Jokerit FIN U18 10 2 4 6 0 4 2 0 2 2 2011–12 Jokerit FIN U20 20 4 1 5 4 — — — — — 2012–13 Jokerit FIN U18 1 1 0 1 2 10 4 2 6 2 2012–13 Jokerit FIN U20 40 7 13 20 35 — — — — — 2013–14 Jokerit FIN U18 2 1 2 3 0 9 2 6 8 12 2013–14 Jokerit FIN U20 38 18 19 37 40 4 0 0 0 0 2013–14 Jokerit Liiga 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Sport FIN U20 6 5 0 5 6 — — — — — 2014–15 Sport Liiga 47 8 5 13 10 — — — — — 2015–16 Sport FIN U20 1 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2015–16 Sport Liiga 48 6 6 12 22 2 0 0 0 0 2015–16 Hermes Mestis 1 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2016–17 Sport Liiga 58 11 10 21 20 — — — — — 2017–18 Sport Liiga 59 19 18 37 24 — — — — — 2018–19 Sport Liiga 48 16 15 31 18 — — — — — 2019–20 Texas Stars AHL 48 12 11 23 25 — — — — — 2019–20 Dallas Stars NHL 11 1 0 1 4 14 5 1 6 4 2020–21 Dallas Stars NHL 26 6 5 11 6 — — — — — 2021–22 Dallas Stars NHL 56 1 6 7 10 7 0 1 1 4 2022–23 Dallas Stars NHL 70 8 1 9 40 15 1 4 5 2 2023–24 Colorado Eagles AHL 10 2 4 6 8 — — — — — 2023–24 Colorado Avalanche NHL 56 3 6 9 12 8 1 1 2 4 2024–25 Colorado Avalanche NHL 79 16 7 23 20 7 0 0 0 2 2025–26 Colorado Avalanche NHL 51 3 6 9 8 5 0 0 0 0 Liiga totals 261 60 54 114 96 2 0 0 0 0 NHL totals 349 38 31 69 100 56 7 7 14 16

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2012 Finland IH18 5 0 0 0 0 2013 Finland U17 7th 5 2 2 4 0 2013 Finland WJC18 7 0 0 0 0 2013 Finland IH18 5th 4 2 1 3 4 2014 Finland WJC18 6th 5 1 0 1 18 2019 Finland WC 9 2 1 3 0 2026 Finland OG 5 2 0 2 0 Junior totals 26 5 3 8 22 Senior totals 14 4 1 5 0