Justus Annunen Bio
Justus Hermanni Annunen, born on 11 March 2000, is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed “Juice” or “Big Juice,” he stands 193 centimeters tall and weighs 94 kilograms, giving him the imposing frame that has earned him his distinctive moniker. He was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round, 64th overall, of the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Annunen built his reputation through a steady rise in Finnish junior and professional leagues before transitioning to North American hockey. He developed his game with Oulun Kärpät, gained valuable experience in the American Hockey League with the Colorado Eagles, and eventually contributed to the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship. His trade to the Nashville Predators in late 2024 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
Early Life and Background
Justus Hermanni Annunen was born on 11 March 2000 in Kempele, Finland, a municipality located in the Northern Ostrobothnia region. Growing up in a country with a deep passion for ice hockey, Annunen was introduced to the sport at a young age and quickly gravitated toward the goaltender position. His early development took place within Finland’s robust youth hockey system, which has produced numerous NHL-caliber players.
At the age of 14, Annunen first played at the junior under-18 level with Kiekko-Laser during the 2014 season. Showing promise as a young teenager, he caught the attention of scouts and earned an opportunity to advance within Finnish hockey’s development structure. By 16, he had joined the ranks of Oulun Kärpät, one of the country’s most storied hockey franchises, where he would spend several formative years refining his craft.
Path to Hockey
Annunen’s path to professional hockey accelerated when he joined Oulun Kärpät’s under-18 team for the 2016–17 season, appearing in 30 games and demonstrating the poise and athleticism that would become hallmarks of his game. The following season, he played predominantly in the Nuorten SM-liiga, where he posted a 2.21 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage, numbers that signaled his readiness for higher-level competition.
He made his professional and Liiga debut with Kärpät near the conclusion of the 2017–18 regular season, allowing four goals on 33 shots in a shutout defeat to HPK on 8 March 2018. Despite the loss, the appearance marked a significant milestone. He returned to junior play and was named the league’s best goalie, a first-team all-star, and won a silver medal after his club finished in second place.
Ranked as the fourth international goalie by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, Annunen was selected 64th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 NHL entry draft. The third goaltender taken in that draft, his selection validated years of steady development and offered him a clear pathway to the NHL.
Justus Annunen Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
To continue his development after being drafted, Annunen was loaned by Kärpät to Mestis club Kokkolan Hermes for the start of the 2018–19 season. In 22 appearances with Hermes, he recorded a 12–7–2 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage. He then returned to Kärpät and made one regular-season appearance before being assigned to the junior team for the post-season, where he posted a 1.50 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in six games to help Kärpät capture the Jr. A SM-liiga championship.
In the 2019–20 season, Annunen was slated to play in Liiga as the backup to Patrik Rybár. He collected his first Liiga win in a 3–2 decision against KalPa on 12 September 2019, and on 16 September 2019, he signed a two-year contract extension. From 21 September to 23 October, Annunen recorded four consecutive shutouts, establishing a new league record for the longest shutout streak during a single season at 302 minutes and five seconds. He finished the campaign with a 15–5–3 record in 23 games, ranking first among all Liiga goaltenders in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (1.77). He placed third in voting for the Urpo Ylönen trophy as the league’s best goalkeeper.
NHL Breakthrough (2020–2022)
On 30 April 2020, Annunen was signed by the Colorado Avalanche to a three-year, entry-level contract. He was assigned to continue his tenure with Oulun Kärpät for the 2020–21 season, appearing in a career-high 24 regular-season games with seven wins, a 2.43 goals-against average, and an .880 save percentage. On 6 May 2021, he was reassigned to begin his North American career with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Assigned to assume the starting goaltender role with the Eagles for the 2021–22 season, Annunen endured a slow start, going winless in his first eight AHL contests before earning a 5–4 overtime victory against the San Jose Barracuda on 29 October 2021. He quickly improved and earned the AHL’s November Goaltender of the Month honors. Recalled to the Avalanche on 1 December 2021, he made his NHL debut on 4 December 2021 in relief of Jonas Johansson against the Ottawa Senators, and earned his first NHL win two days later when the Avalanche defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7–5 on 6 December 2021.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, Annunen was called up after an eye injury to Darcy Kuemper and dressed for two games in the Western Conference Finals. Although he did not play, he shared in the team’s eventual Stanley Cup victory and was awarded a championship ring, though his name was not engraved on the Cup.
Colorado Avalanche Tenure and Trade (2022–2024)
Following the Avalanche’s championship run, Annunen continued to develop within the organization, splitting time between the NHL roster and the AHL. In the 2024–25 season, he made the Avalanche roster out of training camp, solidifying his role as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev. Through the first two months of the campaign, he started nine games and made 11 appearances, collecting six wins and establishing himself as a reliable secondary option behind Georgiev.
On 30 November 2024, Annunen was traded, along with a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NHL entry draft, to divisional rivals the Nashville Predators in exchange for goaltender Scott Wedgewood. The move placed him in a backup role behind Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, who shares the same “Juice” nickname. The resulting confusion was resolved by formally giving Annunen the “Big Juice” moniker, referencing the five-inch height difference between the two goaltenders.
Playing Style and Strengths
Annunen is recognized for his size, composure, and technical consistency in the crease. His 193-centimeter frame allows him to cover significant portions of the net, while his patience and positioning enable him to read plays effectively. He has demonstrated the ability to string together extended stretches of strong play, as evidenced by his record-setting shutout streak in Liiga, and his steady adjustment to the North American style of play has marked him as a goaltender capable of handling increased responsibility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Annunen’s most celebrated achievements is his four-game shutout streak during the 2019–20 Liiga season, a record for the longest single-season shutout streak in league history. He also contributed to Finland’s gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships and was part of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship squad. His trade to the Nashville Predators in November 2024 added another notable chapter to his professional journey.
Justus Annunen Career Wins
Justus Annunen has compiled a respectable record of victories across Finnish and North American professional leagues, beginning with his time in junior hockey and continuing through his current role in the NHL.
NHL Highlights
Annunen earned his first NHL win on 6 December 2021, when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7–5. During the 2024–25 season with the Avalanche, he recorded six wins through his first 11 appearances before being traded to the Nashville Predators. As a member of the Avalanche, he was part of the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship, though he did not appear in any playoff games during that post-season run.
Other Wins and Performances
In Finland, Annunen posted a 15–5–3 record in 23 Liiga games during the 2019–20 season with Oulun Kärpät, ranking first among all league goaltenders in save percentage and goals-against average. With the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, he earned the league’s Goaltender of the Month honors in November 2021. Internationally, he helped Finland capture the gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships, posting a 2.00 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in six games, and represented his country at the 2020 World Junior Championships, where he finished with a .916 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average in six contests.
Justus Annunen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Justus Hermanni Annunen was raised in Kempele, Finland, where he developed his passion for ice hockey within the country’s renowned youth development system. Specific details about his parents and family background are not widely documented in publicly available sources.
Personal Life
Annunen is known by the nicknames “Juice” and “Big Juice,” the latter of which became his official designation after joining the Nashville Predators to distinguish him from teammate Juuse Saros. Information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Justus Annunen entered the 2024–25 season with the Colorado Avalanche, having earned a roster spot out of training camp and serving as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev. Through the first two months of the campaign, he started nine games and made 11 appearances, posting six wins and demonstrating the consistency that had become a hallmark of his development. His play during this stretch reinforced his value as a reliable secondary option for the Avalanche.
On 30 November 2024, Annunen was traded to the Nashville Predators, joining a divisional rival and assuming a backup role behind goaltender Juuse Saros. The trade positioned him within a new organization and a different competitive environment, requiring a period of adjustment as he familiarized himself with the Predators’ systems and coaching staff.
Looking ahead through the remainder of the 2025 calendar year, Annunen’s outlook centers on establishing himself as a dependable contributor for the Nashville Predators while continuing to refine his craft. His combination of size, technical skill, and experience at both the AHL and NHL levels provides a strong foundation for sustained success in his new role.