Avalanche sign goalie prospect Justus Annunen to entry-level contract

The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Justus Annunen to a three-year, entry-level contract, adding another interesting prospect to the organization. Annunen played this season at the highest level in Finland, where he is expected to stay for another year according to Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic.

Annunen, 20, was picked 64th by the Avalanche in 2018 and has quickly become one of the top goaltending prospects in the league. A legitimate “goalie-of-the-future” candidate for the Avalanche, the third-round pick recorded a .929 save percentage as a rookie in Finland’s top league while also posting a .921 mark at the World Juniors.

Standing an imposing 6-foot-4, Annunen also has the quick reflexes and sound positioning to make a name for himself in professional hockey. While he may still be a few years away from making an impact for the Avalanche, getting him under contract was an important first step.

It will be interesting to see what the Avalanche do with regards to goaltending over the next few years, as Philipp Grubauer will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, Pavel Francouz will join him as a UFA in 2022, and Annunen is joining an interesting trio alongside Hunter Miska and Adam Werner as potential options down the road.