Red Wings’ Nedeljkovic Providing Strong Value in Grand Rapids

Perhaps you have heard what has transpired since “Ned” made his way to Hockeytown. But in case you haven’t, here’s how we got to where we are today:

Despite the precarious position Nedeljkovic finds himself in, he is doing everything he can to make the most of his time in Grand Rapids and earn his way back up to the NHL, whether it’s in Detroit or elsewhere.

An NHL Goalie in the AHL

The Griffins’ goaltending situation was pretty bleak prior to Nedeljkovic arriving. Jussi Olkinuora began the season as the top goaltender in Grand Rapids, the 32-year-old’s first season in North America since the 2015-16 season, and the results weren’t pretty. Before he and the Red Wings mutually agreed to a contract termination, he recorded a 6-8-0 record, a 3.75 GAA and a .868 SV%.

Behind Olkinuora was second-year goaltender Victor Brattström. The 25-year-old has endured peaks and valleys since arriving in North America last season. While his personal numbers are a slight improvement over Olkinuora’s, the team has struggled in front of him, with Brattström holding a 3-7-2 record this season.

When Hellberg spent some time in Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint of his own, it showed that the Griffins were capable of staying in games a lot longer when they had a goalie capable of bailing them out. Fair or not, every team needs their goaltender to erase mistakes from time to time; things quickly get out of hand when every mistake leads to a goal against.

So when Nedeljkovic arrived in Grand Rapids on his conditioning stint, it was an opportunity for both parties: an opportunity for him to get some game action after sitting on the bench as Husso’s backup for all but one game since the start of December, and an opportunity for the Griffins to have a goalie capable of erasing their mistakes.

“I had a lot of success in my days in Charlotte…I’ve shown that I can play at a high level,” Nedeljkovic told reporters. “It’s just about being myself and having a clear mind and just having fun.”

Nedeljkovic holds a 7-4-2 record with the Griffins this season, making him the only goalie with a winning record of the five that have suited up for the Griffins this season. For a team that is still trying to remain relevant in the AHL’s Central Division (they currently sit in sixth place), his contributions have had a measurable effect on the team as a whole, of course, but also the young players that are with the Griffins to play meaningful games deep into the season.

Nedeljkovic’s Future with the Red Wings: Holding the Torch or Passing It?

Despite what he says about having a clear mind and having fun, Nedeljkovic isn’t being paid $3.5 million (actual salary) to play in the AHL. He expected to be in Detroit at this point in the season, and so did the Red Wings. That leaves plenty of room to wonder what general manager Steve Yzerman may be thinking about Ned’s future with the Red Wings, but it also weighs on a player that finds himself in a league he thought he had left behind.

“I think as any player, you never want to…go down a level,” Nedeljkovic said back in January during his conditioning stint. “But…I (am) just looking forward to getting some games now and finding my game again. Obviously it’s been a rough start to the season (in the NHL).”

It begs the question: is there a future between the Red Wings and this player? Nedeljkovic is still young at 27 years old and his price tag will surely come down on his next deal. But unless he makes his way back up to Detroit and inspires confidence before the end of the season, does it even make sense for Detroit to make him an offer? Would he even entertain an offer given how his Red Wing tenure has gone?

Maybe we’ve seen the last of Nedeljkovic in a Red Wings uniform, maybe not. As for the Griffins, there are a handful of lessons the Red Wings’ top prospects can learn from their current number one goaltender, as well as the likes of Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne: it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are getting paid, the NHL is a privilege that must be earned every single day. And while they are digesting that lesson, they can look to how Nedeljkovic has handled the situation. He is as candid as ever with reporters and you can tell that he is frustrated with his current circumstances, but he channels that frustration into his performance on the ice. The Griffins have been a better team since he arrived, and it’s a shame to think that this marriage is not meant to be permanent.

But that’s the nature of this industry. Players come and go. Some stay longer than others, but eventually they all move on. That is especially true of the AHL and other minor leagues out there. Despite that fact, the best players and individuals will always give their team a complete effort on a daily basis – it’s just how they’re wired.

Based on his time with the Griffins this season, Nedeljkovic aims to do exactly that for however long he wears a Griffin on his sweater.