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Red Wings Must Address Goaltending Situation Again in Offseason

Magnus Hellberg Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have not kept the same goaltending duo from one season to the next since Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier were the team’s duo during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns. That fact is a sobering reminder that goaltending has not been a source of consistency for the Red Wings since general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman took over in the Spring of 2019.

Entering this season, the incumbent goaltender was Alex Nedeljkovic, a 26-year-old that was acquired a year ago in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. Joining him was Ville Husso, a 27-year-old that was sent to Detroit by the St. Louis Blues in a trade that was completed on the draft floor. Both were young, upstart goaltenders that together had the potential to become one of the better tandems in the NHL.

Just like in seasons prior, that is not what happened.

Instead, Nedeljkovic faltered early on in the season, recording a .880 save-percentage (SV%) in nine games played (GP). That prompted the Red Wings to claim Magnus Hellberg off of waivers from the Seattle Kraken in November, reuniting with the 31-year-old Swedish netminder after he played the final game of the season for the Red Wings last season. By the middle of January, Nedeljkovic found himself in the American Hockey League (AHL), and Hellberg found himself serving as the backup to Husso, whose play this season has made him one of the MVPs for the Red Wings.

Magnus Hellberg, Detroit Red Wings (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

But now the season is just a month from its conclusion. The Red Wings are a longshot to make the playoffs, and that means that the front office is already looking ahead to the decisions they’ll have to make in the offseason. Perhaps the biggest decision they’ll have to make is who will join Husso in Detroit next season. While he has another two years on his deal, both Hellberg and Nedeljkovic are on expiring deals. This, of course, means that the Red Wings face the question of whether to bring either of them back or not.

If they ever want to return to consistency and continuity in goal from one season to the next, they’ll have to choose carefully.

Run It Back with Hellberg

Perhaps it’s his demeanor on and off the ice. Perhaps it’s his ability to keep his team in games. Heck, it might even be because of how cool his pads are. No matter what the reasons are, Hellberg has certainly made a name for himself in Detroit.

Related: Red Wings’ Hellberg Acquisition Starts Goalie Controversy


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