Jere Innala has signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL club announced on Thursday. The Finnish winger had recently signed a two-year extension with Swedish club Frölunda HC, where he has played the past two seasons. However, that contract allowed him to accept an NHL offer if such an opportunity came. It also contains wording that could return Innala to Frölunda for the 2025-26 season.
Jere is on leave and if Colorado does not extend beyond next season, he is our player,” Frölunda sports director Fredrik Sjöström explained on the club website.
Such clauses are not uncommon in European player contracts. The deal Czech forward Jiří Smejkal recently signed in Pardubice contains similar language.
Innala, 26, is a skilled, goal-scoring left winger who was never drafted and had never attracted much interest from the NHL before now, probably owing to his 5-foot-9, 183-pound frame, which most figure is better suited to the European game. The Avalanche have decided to test that.
“Jere has done well with us and on the Finnish national team, got the chance and has chosen to take that step. We wish him the best of luck on that adventure,” said Sjöström, who, while understanding, is nonetheless disappointed. “It’s tough to get that news now. Jere has been an important player for us, but that’s how the system works and now we have to find a replacement.”
Innala was a long-time player for HPK in Finland, and his breakout season of 2018-19 at age 20 coincided with the club’s first and so far only Liiga title. This past season with Frölunda, Innala had 16 goals and 28 points in 42 regular-season games, and then 11 goals and 15 points in 14 playoff games as Frölunda was ousted in a thrilling seven-game semifinal series by eventual-champion Skellefteå AIK.
Innala has represented Finland at three IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal on home ice in 2022.
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