The Colorado Avalanche have had a goaltending issue for most of this season; starter Alexandar Georgiev has struggled so far this season. Their backup, Justus Annunen, has shown some promise, but hasn't been the answer either. Colorado decided now was the time to make a move to put a jolt back in the goaltending room, trading Annunen and a seventh-round choice in 2025 for Nashville goaltender Scott Wedgewood.
The Avs didn't give up a lot to get Wedgewood, but losing a young goaltender with some promise hurts Colorado. Annnuen is only 24 years old, and was 6-4 so far this season. But, he isn't ready for a full-time starting role, with a 3.23 goals against average to go along with a save percentage below .900. Even still, the Avs will focus on the now, not the future, so trading for Wedgewood to beef up the goaltending room does make sense.
Wedgewood is a veteran at 32 years old, and has started four games for Nashville this season. In those four games, he has a 1-2-1 record with a 3.69 GGA and a save percentage of .878. Not great numbers, but he has been playing on a bad Predators team. It's likely that his numbers could improve with a better team in Colorado, but to trade a goaltender with better stats and who is eight years younger along with a draft pick is an interesting choice. Regardless, Colorado hopes that Wedgewood can give Georgiev the push he needs to get back to where he was last season. So far this season, he holds a 7-6 record with a 3.33 goals against average and a save percentage of .872 in 14 starts.
For Nashville, this is a weird trade as well. The Predators are looking for a deep playoff run this season, even though they haven't quite gotten off to a great start. To give up a veteran goaltender with more experience for a younger goalie who needs to have playing time in order to develop is odd. It's not like the team needs a new starter either, as Juuse Saros signed an eight-year extension for big money this offseason. Maybe the Preds are hoping that a younger, more promising backup can help take Saros out of the net a little bit more to get him rested for later in the season, but the team isn't in a playoff spot right now and needs a quick turnaround. Most of the core players on the team this season will be back next year, but even so this trade doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But the draft pick, even if it's a seventh-rounder, is a good return for an aging veteran.
All in all, the Predators should be happy with this trade. They have a potential backup/good trade piece, and got a draft pick as well for an veteran with not great stats who is probably on his way out of the league. The Avalanche look a little desperate here, but it is certainly possible that Wedgewood gives Colorado the boost it needs to get back on top after an average start to the season.