The Nashville Predators will be keeping their current goaltending tandem intact for a few more years. According to a team announcement, the Predators have signed Justus Annunen to a two-year, $2.5MM ($1.25MM AAV) extension.
Nashville acquired Annunen, along with a 2025 sixth-round pick, from the Colorado Avalanche last season for backup goalie Scott Wedgewood. Performance in the crease, as well as the injury bug, was one of the biggest plagues to the Avalanche last season, and Annunen was a part of the problem.
Still, Colorado wouldn’t have believed that just a year before. Although primarily rostered with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, Annunen participated in 14 games for the Avalanche during the 2023-24 campaign, managing an 8-4-1 record with a .928 SV% and 2.25 GAA.
Unfortunately, after being thrust into a backup role behind Alexandar Georgiev, Annunen didn’t continue that performance. Despite winning six of his nine starts, Annunen had disappointed with a .872 SV% and 3.23 GAA, leaving Colorado with little stability in the crease. Deciding to overhaul their entire goaltending room, the Predators swooped in to acquire Annunen and pair him with fellow countryman Juuse Saros.
He played far more with the Predators down the stretch, starting 20 games. He performed mildly better than what he was doing with the Avalanche, accruing a 9-11-1 record with a .888 SV% and 3.17 GAA.
Things haven’t gone much better this year, though they’ve been better lately. He was one of the worst backup options to begin the year, managing a 1-6-1 record in eight games with a .844 SV%. Still, his last four appearances have gone remarkably better, winning two out of four games with a .933 SV% across 90 shots.
Regardless, barring a significant injury to Saros, Annunen will only be counted upon to start 15 to 20 games a season. Given his last four outings, Nashville is likely hoping that Annunen has found another level to his game, leading them to ink today’s extension.