Red Wings waive Alex Nedeljkovic, goaltender

Alex Nedeljkovic’s second season with the Detroit Red Wings keeps going from bad to worse, as the club placed the struggling goaltender on waivers Sunday.

The Red Wings decided to drop the netminder after a good conditioning session with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. He will be reassigned to the AHL affiliate if he clears at 2 p.m. Monday.

The 27-year old has had a rough time in Detroit. since he was acquired from Carolina He had an outstanding 2020-21 season with a.932 save percent and 1.90 goals-against. He was also third in Calder Trophy voting, and was named to NHL All-Rookie.

His starting job has been lost since then. Ville Husso Apparently, he has lost the backup position to the newly acquired Magnus Hellberg After posting a 4.09 GAA in nine games and a.880SV% in the other, Nedeljkovic was able to put up a 4.09 GAA. Nedeljkovic struggled in his first season in Detroit. He posted a 3.31 GAA in nine games and a.901SV% in 59.

“Lately, it’s been ‘one goes in and it’s followed by another and then another,’” said Nedeljkovic after a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 8—his last game to date for Detroit. “It’s been tough.”

Steve Yzerman, Red Wings general manger, has not hesitated to waive players who fail to perform to expectations. doing the same with Jakub Vrana Nedeljkovic was waived earlier in the month. Nedeljkovic’s waiver was also made to clear a spot on the roster. Filip ZadinaAfter breaking his leg on Nov. 5, he is now planning to begin his own training program with the Griffins.

Nedeljkovic’s $3 million cap hit and the fact that he becomes an unrestricted free agent next season would most likely prevent him from being claimed. It would also give a boost in goaltending to the Grand Rapids team, which has conceded the third most AHL goals.

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