Alex Nedeljkovic is currently on top of his game for the Detroit Red Wings
Rarely does a player come along and take the league by storm in his rookie season. One player, a goaltender, has put the league on notice.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, then with the Carolina Hurricanes, came in hot last season, showcasing a world of talent during his rookie year. This season he is with the Detroit Red Wings and he may be playing better than last year when he almost won the Calder Trophy.
Nedeljkovic, a 6-foot-0, 203-pound goaltender, has shown that he can put strings of games together where he is simply brilliant. He is not short on confidence and he lets his play speak for itself.
The 25-year old from Parma, Ohio was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft (37th overall). He came in with a chip on his shoulder, ready to show the teams who passed on him that it was a big mistake.
While playing in the OHL with the Plymouth Whalers during the 2012-13 season he began to make some noise. He finished with a record of 19-2-2, a GAA of 2.28, and a save % of .923 in 26 games.
Nedeljkovic has paid his dues and rode the minor league bus to get where he is today. Making stops in the ECHL with the Florida Everglades and AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. where he scored a goal during the 2017-18 season and won the Calder Cup during the 2018-19 campaign.
He had another eye-popping season once he turned pro, again with the Checkers of the AHL. In 51 games played he went 34-9-6 with a 2.26 GAA and a .916 save % during the 2018-19 season.
After a stellar rookie campaign with the Hurricanes, he was dealt to the Red Wings in a surprising move. Carolina traded Nedeljkovic to Detroit for the rights to goaltender Jonathan Bernier and a 3rd round pick (Carter Mazur) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
What makes his rise unbelievable is he put up really good numbers in a defense-first Hurricanes team but now is putting up better numbers in a rebuilding Detroit team. This season he is 8-3 with a GAA of 2.60 and a save % of 932.
He is in competition once again for the Calder Trophy with teammates forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider. He is still eligible for that award.
Nedeljkovic is still young at age 25. At this rate, he could be one of the best overall goaltenders in the league right now.