Justus Annunen signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“It's awesome,” Annunen said. “I want to play here and I got the opportunity. So, now I just need to earn my spot here every day.”
The 24-year-old goalie is 5-3-1 with a 2.34 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and two shutouts in nine starts this season as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev. He allowed two goals on 27 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Annunen could have become a restricted free agent July 1.
“I think he's put a lot of work into his game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Over the last three years, he's developed nicely, and you can see what he's doing here, right? … He's given us a chance to win. You look at his starts, there have been quality start after quality start, and so I think he gets rewarded with a two-year deal. He's earned it.”
A third-round pick (No. 64) by Colorado in the 2018 NHL Draft, Annunen is 7-4-2 with a 2.79 GAA, a .909 save percentage and two shutouts in 13 games (12 starts) over three seasons.
“I know the teammates here and the coaches, so I like I like it very much here,” Annunen said. “And we’ve got a great team, so it's awesome. Awesome spot to be.”
On Monday, MacFarland told the “DNVR Avalanche” podcast that goalie Pavel Francouz is unlikely to play in the NHL again because of a lower-body injury sustained last season.
Colorado (46-21-5) trails the Dallas Stars by two points with one game in hand for first place in the Central Division.
NHL.com independent correspondent Ryan Boulding contributed to this report
