Scott Wedgewood was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the Nashville Predators on Saturday for Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Wedgewood, 32, is 1-2-1 with a 3.69 GAA and .878 save percentage in five games (four starts) playing behind No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros. He signed a two-year contract with Nashville on July 1 and can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
"It's actually kind of funny," Wedgewood said. "I was sleeping in the hotel in Minnesota. We got there after the game last night and heard a couple little whistle ringings and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I looked like a tourist in my room, kind of trying to figure it out, and I opened the peephole and Barry Trotz was standing right there. Kind of a 'OK, what did I do wrong kind of thing', and he came in and we had a nice conversation. He's a gentleman, takes care of his guys and stuff. So conversation with him. Obviously, let me know what was going on."
Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (No. 84) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Wedgewood is 49-50-23 with a 3.01 GAA, .905 save percentage and six shutouts in 135 NHL games (118 starts) during nine seasons with the Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars and Predators and has appeared in three Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Avalanche (13-12-0) are in fourth place in the Central Division and have allowed 3.72 goals per game, third-most in the NHL, after a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Wedgewood served as the backup for No. 1 goalie Alexandar Georgiev.
"I was excited," Wedgewood said of going to Colorado. "Honestly, funny enough, I've kind of envisioned playing here over time. We talk about teams where you want to be and stuff, and I've been fortunate with time in Dallas, Arizona, Nashville. Now here, I mean I'm hitting some good cities. You can't forget Jersey where I was drafted, and things like that. But obviously, played against these guys a ton over the years and we've had some battles, and it's nice to be on this side of their skill set. It's obviously highly talented guys and elite players. So we're in the race. Obviously, a Cup contender, and it's kind of what you want to play for, and it's obviously exciting to be a part of somebody that wants you.”
Annunen, 24, is 6-4-0 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .872 save percentage in 11 games (nine starts) this season playing behind Georgiev. He can become a restricted free agent after next season.
Annunen was active as the backup to Juuse Saros for the Predators' 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Selected by the Avalanche in the third round (No. 64) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Annunen is 16-9-2 with a 2.81 GAA and .902 save percentage in 29 NHL games (24 starts) over four seasons.
"Well we're getting a goalie that's quite a bit younger than 'Wedgie'," Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. "Wedgie's a really good veteran, really good for us, really good personality in the room, we'll probably miss that, but we're getting a goalie that's younger, has a chance. Our goalie department really feels excited to have him in here and have the chance to be a really good goalie. Not that he's not one now, but they figure he can grow into and develop into a real valuable piece for us."
The Predators signed forwards Steven Stamkos (four years) and Jonathan Marchessault (five years), and defenseman Brady Skjei (seven years) this offseason but have struggled to score goals. They are tied for last with the Boston Bruins in the NHL in goals per game (2.32) and are 30th in the NHL standings (7-12-6).
NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce contributed to this report
