Penguins sign veteran goaltender to contract extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $5M contract extension. The deal was first reported by Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $2.5M, committing Pittsburgh to a total of $7.875M between starter Tristan Jarry and backup Nedeljkovic.

Nedeljkovic was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, after playing through a one-year, $1.5M contract signed last summer. He appeared in 38 NHL games this season — just the second-most he’s played in one season — and managed good results, posting 18 wins and a .902 save percentage. He stood as a reliable backup option for the Penguins, clawing his way back to an everyday role in the NHL after spending much of the 2022-23 season in the minor leagues. It was a hard fall for Nedeljkovic, who had a career year in 2021-22, serving as the Detroit Red Wings starter, managing 20 wins and a .901 save percentage across 59 appearances. That season remains the only year that Nedeljkovic has filled a starter role at the NHL level, but he’s made spot starts as far back as the 2016-17 season. Now 28, Nedeljkovic has totaled 141 games across seven years in the NHL, managing 60 wins and a .906 save percentage even among tough deployment.

The Penguins seem pleased with Nedeljkovic’s inaugural year with the club, and he will now bring him back with a slight pay raise and a bit more term to once again fill the backup role behind Jarry, who is signed through the 2027-28 season. Strong performances could earn Nedeljkovic the role through the end of Jarry’s deal, but top goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist could soon pose tough competition for the backup role.