Detroit Red Wings Sign Hellberg, Nedeljkovic on Trading Block?

The Detroit Red Wings have added yet another goaltender to the mix, signing goaltender Magnus Hellberg to a one-year deal. This raises a lot of questions, not just in Detroit, but throughout the organization.

The Detroit Red Wings have goaltenders throughout the organization, playing in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins and in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye. With two goaltenders already with each team, where does this leave Hellberg?

In Detroit, there is Ville Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. In Grand Rapids, there is Jussi Olkinoura and Victor Brattstrom between the pipes. Sebastian Cossa and John Lethemon guard the nets in Toledo.

The Detroit Red Wings have a lot of questions surrounding this move and only a few options on how to deal with it.

Where does Magnus Hellberg play for the Detroit Red Wings?

Detroit could carry three goaltenders. One would have to sit in the press box or be placed on injured reserve to make room. Hellberg could be sent to Grand Rapids, but he would need to clear waivers. If cleared, Detroit would have to figure out how to get Hellberg playing time.

Maybe they release Olkinoura or Brattstrom, both of whom have been terrible. The final solution would be to trade Nedeljkoivc, who has not played well this year and could fetch a small return.

Husso is not going anywhere. Nedeljkovic is 2-3-1 with a .880 save percentage and a 4.01 goals-against average.

Olkinoura is 5-5 with a 3.64 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage, while Brattstrom is 2-3-1 with a 4.05 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage.

In Toledo, Cossa is 4-5 with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage, while Lethemon is 1-1 with a 3.50 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage.

Most of the goaltenders in the Detroit Red Wings system have a save percentage below.900, which is considered average. Hellberg may be able to help that, yet where does he play?

With Hellberg being sent to Grand Rapids today on a conditioning loan, does that mean he will be in Detroit afterward?

This would be Hellberg’s second stint in Detroit. On April 13, 2022, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent. Detroit then relieved him of his services, which allowed him to sign as a free agent with the Seattle Kraken on July 13, 2022.

On November 25, 2022, he was selected off of Kraken waivers by the Detroit Red Wings.

Hellberg has played in six NHL games with the Red Wings, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Nashville Predators. His career record is 3-3 with a goals-against average of 2.60 and a save percentage of .891.

The question of this move is not why he was signed but where is he going to play this season. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman never reveals his plans for the now or for the future, so the next move for Hellberg is anyone’s guess.

The general feeling I have is that there is a trade coming for Nedeljkovic to make room for Hellberg as the backup with Husso getting most of the starts now. If there is not a trade, then this move does not make a whole lot of sense.