Avalanche sign goaltender Justus Annunen to 2-year contract
The Avalanche inked goaltender Justus Annunen for another two seasons on Tuesday.
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports - Avalanche sign goaltender Justus Annunen to 2-year contractGoaltender Justus Annunen signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2025-26 season.
The Kempele, Finland native was chosen in the third round (64th overall) by the Avs in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Annunen has a 60-29-19 record, a .905 SV%, 2.76 GAA and three shutouts in the 114 regular-season AHL games he's played for the Colorado Eagles from 2020-24.
The 24-year-old made his NHL debut on Dec. 4, 2021 when he relieved Jonas Johansson. Annunen won his first career start against the Philadelphia Flyers two days later. He is the youngest Avalanche goalie to win his first start at 21 years, 270 days.
“Justus is a hard-working young goaltender who has earned this opportunity to compete at the NHL level,” Avs GM Chris MacFarland said. “He has continued to improve and develop his game in the AHL and has played well in his appearances with the Avalanche. We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons.”
According to Puckpedia, Annunen's contract is worth $1,675,000 for the two year extension.
The 6-foot-4 netminder has played eight games this season — five wins, two losses and one overtime loss. Annunen had two shutouts which marked the first of a 123:24 scoreless streak that lasted from Feb. 29-March 12, the 20th-longest the NHL has seen this season and the third-longest by a rookie in franchise history.
Prior to his AHL/NHL career, Annunen played for Finland’s Karpat program from 2016-21. He played one in one Liiga game — Finland’s highest professional league — for Karpat in 2017-18. Annunen compiled a 22-15-11 record with a .906 SV%, 2.18 GAA and seven shutouts in 49 regular-season Liiga games.