The Dallas Stars didn’t waste much time bringing back a familiar face once NHL free agency opened. Joel Kiviranta is headed back to Texas on a one-year contract worth $1 million against the cap.
It’s a reunion that kind of makes sense for both sides. Kiviranta spent the early part of his career in Dallas after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Finland back in 2019. He worked his way up through the AHL and eventually became a regular for the Stars before testing the market and landing with division rival Colorado in 2023.
Now he’s coming home, and the Stars front office sounds genuinely happy about it.
“We are excited to welcome Joel back to the Stars organization,” general manager Jim Nill said through the team’s official site. “Our familiarity with Joel made signing him an easy choice, and his versatility as a player gives us some added flexibility to our lineup.”
Versatility is the key word there. Kiviranta can slot in anywhere in the bottom six, kill penalties if needed, and he’s shown he can raise his game in the playoffs. That’s where he really made his name in Dallas. Remember the 2020 bubble? He scored a hat trick against Colorado in Game 7 of the second round. Stars fans definitely remember.
His time with the Avalanche was a mixed bag. He put up a career-high 16 goals in the 2024-25 season, which earned him a one-year extension. But things went south after that. Last season he played just 51 games and managed only three goals and six assists. Offensive production dropped off a cliff, and he went scoreless in Colorado’s first-round playoff loss to — you guessed it — the Stars. That series went seven games, and Kiviranta didn’t register a point.
It’s worth noting the Stars know what they’re getting. Kiviranta has 38 goals and 31 assists in 349 career NHL games between the two clubs. In the playoffs, he’s got seven goals and seven assists in 56 games. Not flashy numbers, but the guy shows up when the stakes are higher.
For Dallas, this is a low-risk depth move. One year at $1 million is basically nothing in today’s cap world. If he bounces back and gives them 10-12 goals, great. If not, they’re not stuck with a bad contract. And Kiviranta gets to return to an organization where he clearly feels comfortable. Not a bad deal for either side.
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