An undrafted Finnish winger who showed up for just his third career playoff game and scored a Game 7 hat trick in overtime — that’s the Joel Kiviranta story.
That legendary 2020 moment turned him from a near-unknown into an NHL cult hero, and years later he continues to carve out a paid professional career at hockey’s highest level.
Joel Kiviranta’s estimated net worth sits at approximately $1.5 million, built through a steady run of NHL contracts with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
Joel Kiviranta’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joel Kiviranta |
| Date of Birth | March 23, 1996 |
| Age (2026) | 30 |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Height / Weight | 5’11” (180 cm) / 185 lbs (84 kg) |
| Position | Left Wing / Forward |
| Shoots | Left |
| Current NHL Team | Colorado Avalanche |
| Jersey Number | #94 |
| NHL Draft | Undrafted |
| Years Active (Pro) | 2013–present |
| Net Worth | ~$1.5 million (estimated) |
| 2025-26 Salary | $1,250,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | ~$6.75 million (estimated) |
| Brother | Aleksi Kiviranta |
| @joelkiviranta |
Early Life and Hockey Journey
Joel Kiviranta was born on March 23, 1996, in Vantaa, Finland — a city situated just north of Helsinki that has a deep-rooted sports culture.
Growing up in that environment, Kiviranta developed a love for hockey early and committed to the sport through Finland’s well-structured youth development system.
He made his professional Liiga debut on November 12, 2013, suiting up for Jokerit against the Espoo Blues at just 17 years old.
After his time with Jokerit, he moved to Vaasan Sport, where he spent five seasons establishing himself as a reliable forward in Finland’s top professional league.
In the 2018–19 Liiga season, his fifth with Vaasan Sport, Kiviranta put up 31 points in 48 games and scored 16 goals — good enough for third on the team in goals.
He had accumulated 114 points in 261 career Liiga appearances before making his move to North America.
Despite that strong Finnish résumé, no NHL team ever drafted him. Six draft classes passed without a single franchise calling his name.
It was Jere Lehtinen — a former Stars player who became the general manager of Team Finland’s national program — who recommended Kiviranta to Dallas management. The Stars took a chance, and that gamble paid off in historic fashion.
In May 2019, Kiviranta used his NHL-out clause with Vaasan Sport to sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars.
He spent most of his first North American season developing with the AHL’s Texas Stars before breaking into the NHL lineup.
Career
Kiviranta made his NHL debut during the 2019–20 season, playing 11 regular-season games for Dallas. Few expected much from a depth forward with minimal NHL experience. Then came September 4, 2020.
In Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Colorado Avalanche, Kiviranta stepped into the lineup as a replacement for the injured Andrew Cogliano. It was just his third career playoff game.
He proceeded to score a hat trick — including the overtime winner — to give Dallas a 5-4 victory and send the Stars to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2008.
As confirmed by NHL Public Relations, he became the seventh player in NHL history to record a Game 7 hat trick and the only rookie ever to accomplish that feat. The last player before him to do so was Wayne Gretzky in 1993.
“Pretty unreal. This is what you dream about when you’re a young kid,” Kiviranta said after the game. Stars captain Jamie Benn called him “a secret Finnish weapon.”
That moment aside, his NHL regular-season career has been defined more by consistency and defensive reliability than by highlight-reel scoring.
He played several seasons with Dallas, including a productive 2022–23 campaign where he appeared in 70 games.
After his time with the Stars, he signed with the Colorado Avalanche on a tryout basis in August 2023, then converted to a full contract that November.
His best regular-season to date came in 2024–25 with the Avalanche, when he posted 16 goals and 7 assists for 23 points in 79 games — setting career highs across the board at five-on-five.
Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland praised him as “a hard-working, responsible player who has demonstrated he can be a key contributor at five-on-five.” That performance earned Kiviranta a third straight season with Colorado in 2025–26.
At the international level, Kiviranta won a gold medal with Finland at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
He also earned a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship. In 2026, he was selected to represent Finland at the Winter Olympics.
Joel Kiviranta’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Joel Kiviranta has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million.
His wealth comes entirely from NHL playing contracts across his career with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. He is not known to have major endorsement deals or public business investments — typical for a depth forward at his contract level.
Contract
Kiviranta signed his most recent contract — a one-year deal worth $1,250,000 — with the Colorado Avalanche on August 8, 2025, per Spotrac.
The contract carries a cap hit of $1,250,000 and expires at the end of the 2025–26 season, at which point Kiviranta becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.
This deal marked a significant raise from his previous two Colorado contracts, both of which carried a $775,000 cap hit.
The bump came directly off the strength of his career-best 2024–25 regular season with the Avalanche.
Salary
Kiviranta’s 2025–26 salary of $1,250,000 is his highest single-season figure to date. His pay scale has reflected his role as a depth forward — reliable on the penalty kill, capable at even strength, and physically intense without commanding a premium price tag.
His earning power has grown modestly through the years. He entered the NHL at $925,000 per year on his entry-level deal, dipped with Dallas on subsequent contracts, then rebuilt with his Colorado seasons.
The 2025–26 figure positions him well for another UFA negotiation if he maintains his production level.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Salary (Cap Hit) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Dallas Stars | $925,000 |
| 2020–21 | Dallas Stars | $925,000 |
| 2021–22 | Dallas Stars | ~$925,000 |
| 2022–23 | Dallas Stars | ~$925,000 |
| 2023–24 | Colorado Avalanche | $775,000 |
| 2024–25 | Colorado Avalanche | $775,000 |
| 2025–26 | Colorado Avalanche | $1,250,000 |
| Career Total | ~$6.5 million |
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Dallas Stars | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2020–21 | Dallas Stars | 26 | 6 | 5 | 11 | +3 |
| 2021–22 | Dallas Stars | 56 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -6 |
| 2022–23 | Dallas Stars | 70 | 8 | 1 | 9 | -9 |
| 2023–24 | Colorado Avalanche | 56 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -1 |
| 2024–25 | Colorado Avalanche | 79 | 16 | 7 | 23 | +15 |
| 2025–26 | Colorado Avalanche | 40* | 3 | 6 | 9 | — |
| Career | 338 | 38 | 31 | 69 |
FAQs
What is Joel Kiviranta’s net worth?
Joel Kiviranta’s estimated net worth is approximately $1.5 million. His fortune comes entirely from NHL contracts with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, totaling roughly $6.5 million in career earnings before taxes and fees.
What is Joel Kiviranta’s current NHL salary?
He earns $1,250,000 in the 2025–26 season under a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. This is his career-high annual salary and carries a $1,250,000 cap hit through the end of the season.
Was Joel Kiviranta ever drafted by an NHL team?
No. Kiviranta went undrafted through six consecutive NHL Entry Drafts despite a solid professional career in Finland’s Liiga. He reached the NHL as a free agent when the Dallas Stars signed him in May 2019 after a recommendation from Jere Lehtinen.
What is Joel Kiviranta famous for in the NHL playoffs?
He is best known for scoring a hat trick — including the overtime winner — in Game 7 of the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals against the Colorado Avalanche. He became the first rookie in NHL history to record a Game 7 hat trick, and just the seventh player overall. The last person to do it before him was Wayne Gretzky in 1993.
Has Joel Kiviranta won a Stanley Cup?
No. Kiviranta reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Dallas Stars in 2020, but Dallas lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has not won a Stanley Cup as of 2026.
