5 insurance policy goaltenders the Canadiens can add this offseason

Alex Nedeljkovic played well in Pittsburgh but would thrive in a No. 3 role

Of all the potential “insurance policies” listed, Alex Nedeljkovic could be the top name. Long gone are the days that he looked like a possible franchise goaltender, something a contingent of Carolina Hurricanes fans may have believed when he recorded an eye-popping 0.932 save percentage, 1.90 GAA, three shutouts, and 15 quality starts in 2020-21.

It all ended when the Hurricanes traded him to Detroit, and while Nedeljkovic recorded four shutouts with the Red Wings in 2021-22, his GAA sat at 3.31. To be fair, this was a bad hockey team compared to what he had in Carolina, but things didn’t improve for Nedeljkovic in 2022-23, and he saw just 13 starts that season. 

But that changed this past year when he served as Tristan Jarry’s 1B. Nedeljkovic started 33 games and made 38 appearances, recording 18 wins in the process. His basic numbers weren’t bad, with a 0.902 save percentage and a 2.97 GAA, so there is a chance he sticks around with the Penguins or becomes the backup somewhere else. 

However, just because a player may enjoy a good season after a few pedestrian campaigns does not mean they’re guaranteed a spot as a No. 2 goaltender. And if that’s the case, Kent Hughes should seriously look into bringing him on at a discounted rate.