Young Talent to Determine San Jose Sharks Season

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Joonas Donskoi (23), RW

Sep 22, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Joonas Donskoi (27) reaches for the puck against Vancouver Canucks defenseman

Taylor Fedun

(58) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Joonas Donskoi has a great chance at being the RW on the Sharks first line alongside Pavelski and Thornton. Donskoi was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers, but did not join the Panthers and instead stayed overseas. He signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Sharks in May.

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Donskoi played in the Finnish Liiga (Finland’s top professional league) last season and posted 19 goals and 30 assists in 58 games. In the playoffs Donskoi led his team to the Liiga Championship and won the playoff MVP award while scoring the second-most points (22) in the league. In 271 career regular season games in the Finnish Liiga, he has totaled 60 goals and 96 assists and a +41 rating.

Hockey’s Future talent analysis of Donskoi is that he “is a skilled, two-way forward whose game is predicated on making plays and making the players around him better. Donskoi is not shy about competing for the puck and plays an intelligent game but is not overly combative. Rather, he uses his skating ability and stick handling and passing skills to create pressure on opponents.”