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Avalanche Sign Donskoi and Bellemare

Photo: USA Today

By Richard Gonzalez

The Colorado Avalanche have announced the signings of Joonas Donskoi and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

Donskoi:

Donskoi signed a four-year, $15.6 million contract with a $3.9 million AVV. He was originally drafted in the third round (99th overall) by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL entry draft. He did not play with the Panthers and ended up signing a two-year, entry-level contract, with the San Jose Sharks. He would go on to play 283 games with them scoring 122 points (45 goals and 77 assists). He has also added 21 points (nine goals and 12 assists) in 50 playoff games.

Donskoi, 27, is a 6-0, 190-pound right winger who shoots right. He had 37 points (14 goals and 23 assists) with the Sharks last season. Donskoi has the opportunity to exceed his career highs by playing a top-six role with the Avalanche. He is great with the puck and will thrive on the rush, which the Avalanche players like to do when entering the opposing team’s zone. He is a quick player and will fit well with the style of play from the Avalanche.

Bellemare:

Bellemare signed a two-year deal worth $3.6 million contract ($1.8 million AVV). He was an undrafted free agent who was originally signed by the Philadelphia Flyers. He eventually was taken by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. He has played in 385 games scoring 65 points (29 goals and 36 assists).

Bellemare, 34, is a 6-0, 198 pound left winger who shoots left. He had 15 points (six goals and nine assists) in 76 goals last season with the Golden Knights. He was 54.7 percent in the face-off circle and had 51 blocks and 71 hits. He has held a leadership role with both the Flyers and the Golden Knights. He is more known as a defensive player who has good puck possession skills and makes his teammates around him better. He can be most effective on the penalty kill.

Adrian Dater reported the Avalanche were in on Artemi Panarin. Panarin would have been a great signing for the Avalanche but he chose to sign with the New York Rangers on a smaller deal then he was offered from the Avalanche, New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Avalanche were not the biggest winners today but were not the losers at all. They did not go out and overspend on anyone that would have left a whisper on the team. The Avalanche still have the cap space to sign Mikko Rantanen and to make a trade for a bigger named player. There are a few names out there left and that might be an option for the Avalanche. The players signed today filled in needs for the Avalanche and, in my opinion, will only pay dividends to the team.

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July 1st, 2019

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