Penguins Backup Goalie Role up for Grabs
Alex Nedeljkovic isn't yet locked in to play the 2023-24 season as the Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie.
Following a disappointing 2022-23 season between the pipes, the Pittsburgh Penguins were in need of some certainty for the near future.
Tristan Jarry was hampered with injuries all season and Casey DeSmith could only hold down the fort for so long, forcing the Penguins to make a big decision in the offseason.
On the opening day of free agency, new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas decided to take a pretty big gamble.
Dubas extended Jarry to a five-year deal committing to him as the starting netminder; on the same day, however, he added another goalie to the depth chart.
Alex Nedeljkovic was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million and was likely set to play the backup role in Pittsburgh.
The very next day, Dubas added another goalie with NHL experience in Magnus Hellberg; DeSmith was later dealt as part of the Erik Karlsson deal.
Heading into training camp, the Penguins have a 1 through 3 of Jarry, Nedeljkovic, and Hellberg.
With Jarry slated as the sure starter, most might assume Nedeljkovic is lined up to be the second option, but that’s not a guarantee.
Ever since leaving the Carolina Hurricanes, Nedeljkovic hasn’t been the same goalie he was his rookie year.
In two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Nedeljkovic has struggled, even as a back up, and found himself in the AHL for a time in 2022-23.
In 65 starts over the last two seasons, Nedeljkovic holds a 25-31-11 record with a .900 save percentage and 3.35 goals against average.
Even for a backup in today’s NHL, those aren’t great numbers.
Now, consider Hellberg’s numbers and the kind of battle he might give Nedeljkovic at camp.
In 2022-23, Hellberg played three more games than Nedeljkovic did and posted similar numbers.
Both players found time at the AHL level last year and while Nedeljkovic has a longer record in the NHL and history of being a top tier goalie, it's been a while since anyone has seen it.
Nedeljkovic might enter camp with the upper-hand, but Hellberg isn’t far behind, especially if he can find a rhythm at the right time.
If the Penguins like what they see from certain forwards, it might even be possible Nedeljkovic loses his NHL role as a cap casualty.
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