As the 2024-25 NHL season enters its second month, the race for the Calder Memorial Trophy – awarded annually to the league’s top rookie – is already heating up. While early favorites like Matvei Michkov and Logan Stankoven continue to garner headlines, an unlikely contender is quietly making his case in the Centennial State.
Annunen Standing Tall for Avalanche
Justus Annunen, the 24-year-old Finnish netminder for the Colorado Avalanche, has been a revelation between the pipes. In his past six starts, Annunen boasts an impressive 5-1-0 record to go along with a .908 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average. While those numbers may not jump off the page, they’re a marked improvement over struggling veteran Alexandar Georgiev.
More importantly, Annunen’s strong play has kept the Avalanche afloat in the early going despite uncharacteristically suspect team defense. As reinforcements like Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin return to the lineup, Colorado seems poised for a turnaround – one that could see Annunen’s stock skyrocket.
According to a source close to the team, head coach Jared Bednar has been impressed with the young Finn’s poise and consistency. “Justus has been a rock for us back there,” the source revealed. “He’s giving us a chance to win every night, which is all you can ask from a rookie goaltender.”
Calder Landscape Wide Open
While Michkov and Stankoven remain the odds-on favorites to claim rookie of the year honors, the Calder race is far from a two-horse affair. Consider the following:
- Michkov has struggled recently and was a healthy scratch for the first time on Thursday
- Stankoven’s production is at the mercy of Peter DeBoer’s incessant line juggling in Dallas
- Sharks’ blueliner Lane Hutson needs a torrid scoring pace to overcome voters’ bias against defensemen
- Islanders’ dark horse candidate Maxim Tsyplakov (+3000) lacks the pedigree of his more heralded peers
In short, the door is open for an unsung hero like Annunen (+6600) to make a compelling case. If the Avalanche can right the ship and climb the standings, their rookie sensation will be impossible to ignore.
Betting on a Darkhorse
For savvy bettors, Annunen’s Calder candidacy is an intriguing proposition. At +6600, the potential payout is tantalizing for a wager on a goalie getting significant run for a perennial contender.
“There’s a lot to like about backing a rookie goalie that’s getting the job done for a legitimate playoff threat like Colorado. If Annunen keeps playing at this level, those +6600 odds are going to shrink in a hurry.”
– Professional hockey bettor who requested anonymity
Of course, the Calder Trophy is not won in November. But if the first month of the season is any indication, Justus Annunen has as good a shot as anyone to etch his name in the history books alongside the NHL’s all-time greatest rookies. For the Colorado Avalanche and their fans, that’s a very exciting prospect indeed.
