Avalanche sign backup Justus Annunen to two-year extension

April 02, 2024 - 4:03pm

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed backup goaltender Justus Annunen to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms of the contract were not announced. Annunen was due to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Annunen, 24, has a .926 save percentage and 2.38 goals-against average in eight appearances this season, posting a 5-2-1 record with two shutouts. He will start Tuesday night at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

“Justus is a hard-working young goaltender who has earned this opportunity to compete at the NHL level,” Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said in a statement. “He has continued to improve and develop his game in the AHL and has played well in his apperances with the Avalanche. We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons.”

Ivan Prosvetov began the season as the primary backup to starter to Alexandar Georgiev but Annunen was recalled in early February and has remained in the NHL ever since.

Annunen, a native of Finland, was a third-round pick by the Avalanche in 2018 and made his North American pro debut in the AHL in 2020-21.

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