Justus
Annunen
G · NSH · Excellent
- PAL
- 84
- WAR
- 2.9
- Value
- 86
- SV%
- .907
2025-26№ 20 / 98
Justus Annunen (Nashville Predators) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Justus Annunen
HEIGHT : 193 cm · WEIGHT : 95 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : March 10, 2000 · Kempele, Finland
Drafted : 2018 · COL · round 3, pick #64
Contract : $1,250,000 · 2026-27 → 2027-28 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Nashville Predators | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3.40 | .874 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | Nashville Predators | 28 | 10 | 12 | 2.68 | .907 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | Nashville Predators | 23 | 9 | 11 | 3.17 | .888 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Colorado Avalanche | 11 | 6 | 4 | 3.23 | .872 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Colorado Avalanche | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2.25 | .928 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Colorado Avalanche | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3.58 | .854 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Colorado Avalanche | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4.34 | .863 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 84 | 38 | 33 | 2.90 | .898 | 3 | |
Justus Annunen: our analysis
2025-26 season: 28 GP, 10 W, 12 L, .907 SV%, 2.68 GAA, 1 SO. WAR 2.9 (20th of 98) · PAL 84, excellent.
In 2025-26, Justus Annunen, 26, posts a PAL Rating of 84 out of 100 (excellent), and his WAR of 2.9 ranks 20th among 98 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: consistency (89, among the best in the league), efficiency (88, among the best in the league) and high danger (88, among the best in the league). On the other hand, workload (26, below average) holds him back.
GSAx: +10.4 (goals saved above expected).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 23 in 2024-25 to 84; his WAR went from -1.5 to 2.9.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 86 (very good contract) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Justus Annunen's story
A native of Kempele born 11 March 2000, Justus Annunen moved quickly through Finland’s youth systems, appearing at the U18 level as a teenager with Kiekko-Laser before joining Kärpät Oulu’s development pipeline. Early on he showed a composure and positional sense that would define his approach in net: steady under pressure, he relies on angles and anticipation to frustrate shooters more than on flashy acrobatics.
His junior seasons in the Nuorten SM-liiga and Jr. A brought consistent playing time and attention from NHL scouts. After brief senior minutes with Kärpät, he was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 NHL entry draft. To get more game action he began 2018–19 on loan in Mestis with Kokkolan Hermes, then returned to Kärpät to help the club capture the Jr. A SM-liiga championship.
In 2019–20 he served as backup in Liiga and then emerged with exceptional numbers: a run of four straight shutouts (302 minutes, five seconds) set a single‑season league shutout streak mark, and he finished the shortened regular season among the league leaders in save percentage and goals‑against average. Colorado signed him to a three‑year entry-level contract on 30 April 2020, while he completed another season in Finland before moving to North America.
Annunen’s North American path went through the AHL’s Colorado Eagles; he made his NHL debut in relief in December 2021 and notched his first NHL win two days later. He was part of the Avalanche roster group during their Stanley Cup run, receiving a ring though his name was not engraved on the Cup. In the 2024–25 cycle he made Colorado’s roster as a backup and, on 30 November 2024, was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Scott Wedgewood, taking a backup role there.
Internationally he has represented Finland at multiple levels: the 2017 Ivan Hlinka event, the 2018 U18 world championship where Finland won gold, the 2020 World Junior Championship, and he was Finland’s starting goaltender at the 2026 World Championship, posting strong numbers and helping secure the tournament title. Plainly, his game is built on positional discipline, calm rebound control and consistent puck tracking rather than theatrical saves.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 4
- Shots against
- 111
- Saves
- 97
- %ARR / SV%
- 87.4 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Slightly up
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: +1.53 in 23-24, +0.93 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 23 → 84
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 26: prime years
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
2.9
wins above replacement
20 of 98
PAL Rating
84/ 100
Performance · Excellent
12 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
86/ 100
Very good contract
0.84 M$ · expected PAL 44
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 88
- Impact
- 79
- High danger
- 88
- Consistency
- 89
- Workload
- 26
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NSH | 2.9 | 84 | 86 | 0.84 M$ |
| 2024-25 | NSH | -1.5 | 23 | 24 | 0.84 M$ |
| 2023-24 | COL | 2.2 | 84 | 91 | 0.78 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
2.9
wins above replacement
0.4 to 5.5 — 90% interval
20 of 98 goalies
+15.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- +10.4
- Average → replacement
- +4.8
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NSH | 28 | 2.9 | 0.4 to 5.5 | 20/98 |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 32 | -1.5 | -3.3 to 0.4 | 86/99 |
| 2023-24 | COL | 14 | 2.2 | 0.3 to 4.2 | 25/98 |
| 2022-23 | COL | 2 | -0.4 | -1.6 to 0.3 | 83/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .87422nd percentileleague avg. .890
- High-danger save %
- .77130th percentileleague avg. .804
- Games above .900
- 50.0 %72nd percentileleague avg. 45.8 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 3.1660th percentileleague avg. 3.07
- Goal differential per 60
- -0.2440th percentileleague avg. 0.07
Save % by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
COL
TBL
BOSJustus Annunen: frequently asked questions
What is Justus Annunen's record in 2026-27?
Justus Annunen has 3 wins in 4 games in 2026-27, with a .874 save percentage and a 3.40 goals-against average.
How old is Justus Annunen?
Justus Annunen is 26 years old: he was born on March 11, 2000.
How tall is Justus Annunen, and how much does he weigh?
Justus Annunen is 6'4" (193 cm) and weighs 209 lb (95 kg).
Where is Justus Annunen from?
Finland: Justus Annunen was born in Kempele, Finland.
What team does Justus Annunen play for?
Justus Annunen plays for the Nashville Predators in the NHL, at G, wearing number 29.
Is Justus Annunen injured?
No: Justus Annunen is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Justus Annunen?
Justus Annunen produced 2.9 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 20th of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 84 out of 100: excellent for his position.
How much does Justus Annunen make?
Justus Annunen earns $838K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 86 out of 100 (very good contract): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Justus Annunen's contract end?
Justus Annunen's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Justus Annunen overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 86 out of 100 (very good contract), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Justus Annunen a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 20th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Justus Annunen getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 23 in 2024-25 to 84 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Justus Annunen's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Justus Annunen has 84 games, 38 wins and 3 shutouts. His best season: 2025-26, with 10 wins.
Where was Justus Annunen drafted?
Justus Annunen was drafted 64th overall (round 3) by Colorado Avalanche in 2018.
How does Justus Annunen perform in the playoffs?
Justus Annunen has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Which player is most similar to Justus Annunen?
Devin Cooley: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Devin Cooley's page →What is Justus Annunen's nationality?
Justus Annunen is Finnish. Internationally: Finland — gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships; represented Finland at the 2020 World Junior Championships; starting goaltender and gold medalist at the 2026 World Championship.
What awards has Justus Annunen won?
Named the Jr. A league's best goalie (Nuorten SM-liiga) — 2017–18 season ; Named a Jr. A first-team all-star (Nuorten SM-liiga) — 2017–18 season ; AHL Goaltender of the Month — November 2021 ; Set Liiga record for longest shutout streak in a single season (302 minutes, 5 seconds) — 21 Sept to 23 Oct 2019.
How many championships has Justus Annunen won?
2: Jr. A SM-liiga championship with Oulun Kärpät junior team — 2019; Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche (shared in the team's win; received a ring; name not engraved on the Cup) — 2022.
What is Justus Annunen's nickname?
He is nicknamed Juice / Big Juice.
Where did Justus Annunen play before turning pro?
Junior clubs: Kiekko‑Laser (U18) in 2014; Oulun Kärpät (U18 2016–17, Nuorten SM-liiga 2017–18; Jr. A through 2019).
See also: his Nashville Predators teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)