It doesn't matter which level or sport you're playing, there's one trait a coach values more than others.
Consistency.
If you don't know what you'll get on a nightly basis from a player, it's hard to trust them. We know it's something Jared Bednar values, and that's why he's been so happy with the play of winger Joel Kiviranta.
"He's been phenomenal," Bednar said of the 28-year-old Finn. "He's been one of our most consistent players."
Avalanche fans were taken aback in the summer of 2023 when the team announced they were bringing in Kiviranta on a professional tryout contract. It was the Finnish forward who ended Colorado's season in the bubble back in 2020.
How could anyone forget?
Kiviranta entered Game 7 between the Avalanche and Dallas Stars with a whopping one goal in 13 career NHL games. He left that game with three more, scoring an unlikely hat trick, including the overtime winner that sent the Avalanche home for the offseason. He doesn't like talking about that game, but often jokes that things turned out okay for the Avalanche, seeing how they won the Stanley Cup a few years later.
The Avalanche didn't give Kiviranta an NHL deal out of training camp last year. They cut him late in camp and signed him to an AHL deal. He didn't last long there, as he quickly earned that NHL contract and almost immediately joined the Avalanche, never touching the AHL again.
Colorado knew exactly what they were getting in Kiviranta, a strong, checking forward who doesn't have a ton of flash to his game. They wanted more, though, and felt he had more to give. Assistant coach Ray Bennett began meeting with Kiviranta on a consistent basis to discuss how he could take his game to another level. The focus of those meetings was getting the Finn to trust his instincts offensively and not be afraid to skate and make plays with the puck on his stick.
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Eventually, they saw those meetings pay off.
"Last third of the season, I thought (Kiviranta) was outstanding last year, and then his game took another step in the playoffs," Bednar said.
That strong play has continued into this season, and those meetings with the coaching staff about trusting his offensive instincts have started to pay off.
"I knew it was there, but last year it was a little harder," Kiviranta told The Denver Gazette. "I tried to play with the puck every time, but seeing those chances, when there's actually more time than you think when you watch videos with the coaches, that helps. When you do that enough, you start realizing those situations and realize I have a little bit more time and just start skating. Things start to open up."
Kiviranta takes pride in his ability to be consistent, noting that consistency is key in his role as a checker. It's unlikely he'll ever be a consistent scorer in the NHL, but it's hard to win in the league without players like Kiviranta who understand their role. The ability to be a trusted checker is why the staff isn't afraid to play him up in the lineup, if needed.
"He's a good player for us. He can play anywhere in the lineup," said Mikko Rantanen, one of Kiviranta's closest friends on the team. "When we had injuries he played with me and Nate and it felt good. He's a smart player. It's been fun to watch him and he's been consistent, which is what we need."
For all of these reasons, the staff has put a lot more on Kiviranta's plate. After averaging just under 10 minutes per game last season, he's playing around 13 minutes per game this season.
Consistency is a big reason for that, according to his coach.
"Those 3 minutes, yeah, we've had some injuries that could affect it a little bit, but to me, that's completely earned," Bednar said.
