The Detroit Red Wings are coming off of a historically bad season, and they need to improve their depth all over the ice. However, they have made some calculated high-upside value plays this offseason that give me reason to be hopeful about their future. While Nedeljkovic is certainly a valuable piece of their current lineup, his future with the Red Wings is less clear, and it will be difficult to justify investing in a volatile position in the future.

Alex Nedeljkovic’s breakout season

Alex Nedeljkovic had a breakout season for the Carolina Hurricanes last year. The goaltender posted a 20-24-9 record and 3.31 goals against average during his first season in the NHL. After battling for starts in Carolina, Nedeljkovic was named AHL’s top goaltender in 2018-19.

Nedeljkovic topped league save percentage and had top five save percentages at 5-on-5. His numbers exceeded expectations and he was already being considered the “goalie of the future” by many. He’s another Carolina homegrown player who has risen from the farm system to become a valuable player for the organization. However, his season wasn’t without its share of struggles.

The team that drafted Nedeljkovic in 2011-12 was led by goaltender Dylan Larkin. The two played together on the Belle Tire 16U AAA team.

His relationship with captain Dylan Larkin

The relationship between captain Alex Nedeljkovic and captain Dylan Larkin has been in the news lately. Both players have recently announced their engagement to each other. The Red Wings have also acquired goaltender Ville Husso from the St. Louis Blues, along with nine draft picks. The announcement came with a photo of Larkin’s dog, Ellie, in a traditional bended knee pose.

The Red Wings opened the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the season opener, and it was a tough game for them. They surrendered 7 goals to the defending champs and had to rely on Tyler Bertuzzi to score. However, in the second period, they were able to get the victory on a power play and Dylan Larkin scored his third straight goal on a man advantage. The Red Wings were led by goaltender Thomas Greiss, who made 32 saves. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils were led by goaltender Akira Schmid, who made 26 saves on the night.

His style of play

As a goaltender, Alex Nedeljkovic possesses a high level of physicality and a great style of play. Standing at six feet and two hundred and thirty pounds, he has a powerful frame and is an aggressive goaltender. He stands high in the crease and has solid fundamentals.

The Red Wings’ up-tempo style is perfect for Nedeljkovic, who fits into it perfectly. His great saves and puck-handling ability keep the team moving, while his teammates feed off his excellent play. As a result, the Red Wings have a goalie who is confident and has the ability to make the big saves. That’s important in a sport like hockey, where the puck is constantly in motion.

His trade to Carolina

While some have argued against trading for the veteran, this move is an excellent one. It gives the Red Wings a young, talented goaltender that they can develop with the team in front of him. The deal is also much more appealing than investing in a goaltending prospect who will probably need several years before reaching his full potential.

Before the trade, Nedeljkovic was a restricted free agent and eligible for arbitration. Though he struggled early, he was able to start more than half of the Hurricanes’ regular season games and nine of their playoff games. The trade was a win-win situation for the team and the fans.

His future with the Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have a number of young goaltending prospects, but a key player in the goaltending group is Alex Nedeljkovic. The team was looking for a long-term goaltending solution after Keith Petruzzelli was rumored to be leaving. Nedeljkovic is considered one of the best goalie prospects in the NHL and has already proven his worth.

While it’s hard to determine Nedeljkovic’s future with Detroit, his recent play has been encouraging. He’s had a rough stretch of play in February, but has been impressive since the start of April. His first shutout ended the Red Wings’ four-game skid and his second shutout snapped a six-game skid.