Alex Nedeljkovic
Age: 27
2022-23 Contract: $3,000,000
Stats: 15 GP | 3.53 GAA | 0.895 SV%
Nedeljkovic is an intriguing rebound play that goes against the late career veterans that the team has looked for recently. Having been a Calder Trophy finalist with the Hurricanes in 2021, he was acquired by Detroit in hopes of becoming their rock in net — playing 59 games in 2022 — but posted replacement level numbers that continued into the 2023 season. Eventually, he found himself sent down to the AHL.
Without a multi-year proven track record to support him, Nedeljkovic is an inherently risky choice, but his time in Carolina proved that he can be a strong option with a good team in front of him.
I do not imagine that he will be able to lineup in a starting or co-starting role on any team after his performance this season, but signing for a year with a good team in a backup role, and rebuilding his form, could be his best chance at getting back into a starting role in the league.