Predators sign Justus Annunen to two-year extension

The Nashville Predators announced Monday they have signed goaltender Justus Annunen to a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension that will kick in next season. It will carry an average annual value of $1.25 million.

In nine starts and 12 appearances this season serving as starter Juuse Saros’ backup, Annunen has a 3-5-1 record with a .875 save percentage and a 3.29 goals-against average.

The Predators acquired Annunen, along with a sixth-round pick, from the Colorado Avalanche in November of last season in exchange for goaltender Scott Wedgewood. In 20 starts and 23 appearances with Nashville following the trade last season, the Finnish national posted a 9-11-1 record to go with a .888 SV% and a 3.17 GAA.

Annunen was originally selected by the Avalanche in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. After three more seasons playing primarily in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga), Annunen came to North America full-time for the 2021-22 season. That year, he made 48 appearances for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he earned a 24-13-6 record with a .893 SV% and a 3.01 GAA. He also got his first NHL experience that season, as he gave up seven goals over two appearances with the Avalanche.

He continued to bounce between the NHL and AHL over the next couple of years. His best stretch of play in the NHL to date came in the 2023-24 season, when he made 12 starts and 14 appearances for the Avalanche and put up an 8-4-1 record with a .928 SV% and a 2.25 GAA.

In the 2024-25 season, Annunen made nine starts and 11 appearances for the Avalanche, with a 6-4-0 record and a .872 SV% and a 3.23 GAA before getting dealt to the Predators.

Nashville will finish a stretch of seven straight games on the road when they play the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.