Former Avalanche starting goalie makes an unexpected career move that has the hockey world talking

Brennan McClain from Pro Hockey Rumors writes that Nashville announced Monday that the 25-year-old goaltender agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million deal that kicks in for 2026-27. It's a $1.25 million cap hit, basically backup money with a little upside baked in.

Colorado drafted Annunen 64th overall in 2018 and gave him a two-year extension in 2024. He was traded to Nashville in November 2024 for Scott Wedgewood and a quick reset in goal.

This season he's 3-5-1 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in 12 appearances behind Juuse Saros. He posted a season-high 37-save game in Denver on Dec. 13 and looks steadier lately.

Across 64 NHL games, he's 28-25-4 with two shutouts, numbers that scream still developing more than finished product. Nashville clearly likes the cost-controlled bet on a 25-year-old who has been healthy.

Avs fans will shrug and say the talent was always there, it just never arrived on schedule in Colorado. For Nashville, this is cheap insurance while Saros carries the heavy nights.

Annunen is 6-foot-4, and he's at his best staying tall and smothering rebounds. He owned a 1.77 GAA and .929 save percentage in Liiga in 2019-20 with Kärpät.

Colorado saw the good version in 2023-24, going 5-2-1 with a .926 save percentage and two shutouts. Last season he dipped to .872 in nine starts, and the Avalanche moved on.

The timing matters, because the extension doesn't start until 2026-27, buying Nashville cost certainty while Annunen stays on his current deal this year.

The extension suggests Trotz wants a stable No. 2, someone who can steal a night when the Preds' forecheck gets loose. It hints they expect 15 to 20 starts behind Saros.

At $1.25 million per season, Nashville can spend elsewhere, maybe on blue-line depth that cuts slot chances and helps both goalies.

Next time Nashville visits Denver, we'll see whether Annunen looks like the goalie Colorado once banked on.