Avalanche sign backup goalie Annunen to 2-year extension

The Colorado Avalanche signed Justus Annunen to a two-year, one-way contract extension, the club announced Tuesday.

Annunen's new deal carries an average annual value of around $833,000, according to ESPN's Kevin Weekes. The Finnish netminder was a pending restricted free agent whose current pact carries a $775,000 cap hit, according to CapFriendly.

The 24-year-old is 5-2-1 with a .926 save percentage and two shutouts in eight games this season. He's won each of his last four starts, allowing only five goals on 121 shots in that span for a save percentage of .959.

The Avalanche drafted Annunen 64th overall in 2018. He's primarily played for the club's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, over the last three campaigns. That's included 23 contests this season, 41 in 2022-23, and 48 in 2021-22.

Annunen suited up for a pair of NHL games in each of the two previous campaigns.

Alexandar Georgiev has handled the bulk of the workload in the Avalanche crease this season. He's tied for the league lead with 56 games played in 2023-24. Despite Georgiev's 37-15-3 record, he's underachieved to the tune of a .903 save percentage.

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