San Jose Sharks Adding a Little Depth in Net from Pittsburgh

Penguins Acquire Future Draft Capital in Alex Nedeljkovic trade

The past season in Pittsburgh wasn’t enough to get it done, thus the feeling he was expendable. He went 14-15-5, with a 3.12 GAA and .894 SV%, with one shutout. Moreover, for a team that is led by the ageless wonder, Sidney Crosby, they can’t accept mediocrity. Therefore, the trade does fit the Pens plan.

The Pens want to win, so feel they can do, at least, just as good without Nedeljkovic. Of course, unless they have other plans ahead.

The Sharks Perspective in Picking Up Nedeljkovic

As for the Sharks, their organization is not in the same position as the Pens. The Sharks are in full rebuild mode. Conversely, with the likes of the ultra-talented Macklin Celebrini, and a few other prospects he is surrounded with, the rebuild will be done before you know it. That is something that general manager Mike Grier is trying his best to prepare for, whichever way the ship turns. Building depth at the goaltending position is rarely a bad thing. When you can do it, by building the future, along with improving your team’s trajectory, there might be some magic brewing.

Nedeljkovic provides great support for a guy like Yaroslav Askarov. Askarov is still just 23, and it may come as a surprise, given how much you seem to hear of him, still only has 16 games of NHL experience under his belt. In his mind, he’s been ready for the show. It seems that 2025-26 will be an interesting season in The Bay, right from the tender-on-out. Stay tuned to see if they make a big step, or if they stay in the rebuild cycle.