Justus Annunen’s string of competent goaltending helped steady the Colorado Avalanche during a tumultuous start to this season, and it will likely help him stave off a challenge for his place on the NHL roster.
But what if we think a little bigger for the large Finnish goaltender? Could Annunen’s strong work at the end of last season, plus a steady run of solid starts this year, push him into the conversation for Finland’s third-string goaltender at the forthcoming 2025 4 Nations Face-Off or the 2026 Winter Olympics?
“I think he’s played really well,” Finnish Avs star Mikko Rantanen said. “He’s showed that he can play in the NHL at a high level. I don’t know, I think (Juuse) Saros is a clear No. 1 goalie, but there’s two other spots, and I’m not sure who’s going to be those two.
“I think for sure, the management has to discuss a little bit about Justus and what he’s done, how calm he looks and his numbers when he starts the games. I think they’re pretty good. I think he’s played really good and (is) for sure in the discussion.”
Let’s be clear — Annunen making the 4 Nations roster is a long shot. The final rosters are due less than a month from now. But the Olympics in Italy a year later could be a reasonable goal, with some good fortune and another step in his development along the way.
It wasn’t that long ago that Finland was the greatest developer of NHL goalies on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Russia has taken control of that title in recent years, and there aren’t as many high-end Finnish options for international events as there used to be.
Saros, despite a wobbly start for the Nashville Predators, is the country’s clear No. 1 guy. Assuming good health, he’ll play every meaningful minute at the 4 Nations tournament for Finland.
Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the obvious choice as the No. 2 goalie before this season began, and should probably feel safe to make the 4 Nations roster. The third spot, assuming good health for Saros and UPL, is where the intrigue was at the start of this year.
The most likely answer right now is Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen. He’s off to a great start filling in for Thatcher Demko with the Canucks — 7-0-2 with a .923 save percentage. Lankinen was also the starting goalie for a Finland team that surprisingly won the world championships in 2019. That was the last time any of the current options for Finland played for the country in a men’s international event.
But, Finland could also use the third spot to bring a younger goalie to one of these two tournaments, which could crack the door open for Annunen or Pittsburgh’s Joel Blomqvist.
“I don’t really look at the stats,” Annunen said. “I know (the 4 Nations tournament) is coming. I know there are goalies who have played a lot more in the NHL than me.”
Beyond Saros, UPL and Lankinen, there’s also Annunen’s current teammate, …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
