Is Justus Annunen Colorado’s set-and-forget backup?

Will the Avalanche acquire a veteran netminder, or do they plan on finding value in Annunen’s services?

The Colorado Avalanche did a lot at the trade deadline last season, but what they didn’t do fueled the narrative from many pundits and fans.

They didn’t add veteran netminding and bet on Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen in the 2023-24 postseason. After Georgiev’s rocky start, our very own Jackie Kay accurately predicted that he would start every game in the playoffs, and he ended up being one of Colorado’s best players in the postseason.

Now, the question is, will they stick with that strategy heading into 2024-25 and lean heavily on Georgiev yet again while finding value in cheap and infrequent appearances from Justus Annunen? Or will they find a true backup and give Georgiev more nights off?

Sticking with Justus

I, for one, think leaning on Georgiev makes sense as long as his health is maintained. He has been vocal about preferring more frequent starts than most other guys in the league. Doing so will free up some cap space to sort things out before him, especially considering how cheap Annunen’s services are.

Justus has shown some promise and could become a full-time NHL netminder one day. His potential remains unrealized, with just 18 career appearances, and I think it’s wise to learn a bit more about Justus before making any long-term decisions. His two-year $837,500 AAV contract is a will-do for now, and we will see what steps, if any, he’s taken at camp and in the preseason.

Homegrown goalies are rare, and the Avalanche have the opportunity to foster one in Justus. I suggest letting the kid give it a real go this year and splitting more with Georgiev; otherwise, Avalanche management won’t learn anything they don’t already know.

Vying for a veteran

Suppose Annunen’s contract doesn’t indicate a heavy lean on Georgiev; Colorado will save their tokens for a proven veteran backup. Annunen’s term should mean that he would likely clear waivers if Colorado had to send him down to the Eagles. That would make way for whatever netminder the Avalanche had in mind. I hope they use the waiver wire route rather than a trade for this addition. Let’s hold onto our assets for a little bit here.

This is a viable option, considering Annunen could be the starter in Loveland and would undoubtedly see more pucks and starts no matter what. But then again, considering all that Colorado has done to re-stock the goalie cupboard, they may want to get someone like Nabokov over and prove himself in the AHL, although he likely won’t skip the pond until next summer.

The risk with this move comes with sending Annunen down. Although the two-year term should sway most teams, it’s hard to gauge how other clubs might view Annunen. Although drawn from a small sample, his numbers are promising for a prospect keeper. With the right situation, Annunen could see a lot more NHL starts. Another team might see that and jump on the opportunity. I think having an inexpensive and serviceable backup is attractive, so I’d be concerned if Justus hit the wire.

Risk vs. Reward

I believe acquiring a veteran is a riskier play with insufficient potential rewards. It would be a move simply for security and rest for a player who seems okay with not getting as much as other keepers. If you lose Annunen, you lose arguably your best goalie prospect, Georgiev, who is in the final year of his three-year contract.

On the other hand, giving more starts to Annunen means potentially risking regular season wins, but at the very least, we will have a clear picture of who Annunen is. I don’t think giving Justus 20 starts would be harmful or put a big dent in Colorado’s win total. The potential reward far outweighs the risk. Annunen could take that next step in the development and look like a viable and uber-affordable option for a goalie contest in the 2025-26 camp. That’s a little pie in the sky, but it’s not impossible. I’m willing to find out before the deadline rolls around again next season. Then you know if you have to make a move.

What do you think the Avalanche will do in net this season?