The Detroit Red Wings have found a goaltender. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that the Red Wings will acquire goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Hurricanes will receive Jonathan Bernier and a third-round pick in return. Bernier is a pending unrestricted free agent, and LeBrun notes that he has not signed with Carolina at this point.
Nedeljkovic, 25, burst onto the scene in Carolina this season, taking over the net when given the opportunity. After Petr Mrazek went out with injury, Nedeljkovic stepped in and posted a .932 save percentage in 23 games. He continued to play in the postseason for the Hurricanes, registering a .920 in nine appearances, but losing five of the games he played in. Nedeljkovic finished third in Calder Trophy voting as one of the league’s best rookies.
After that breakout performance, Nedeljkovic was set up for a huge raise in restricted free agency. The young goaltender was arbitration-eligible and was looking for a contract in the range of a $3.5M average annal value, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff. If the Hurricanes weren’t willing to pay that much for the inexperienced netminder, it makes sense to move him, though this transaction certainly brings up more questions.
The Hurricanes now have three goaltenders, Bernier, Mrazek and James Reimer, who have all been starters in the past and will become unrestricted free agents on July 28. They do not have any real NHL options in the system, meaning there will be contracts to come at some point.
More must-reads: