Nedeljkovic Latest to Step Up as Injuries Mount

Recently it was Magnus Hellberg for the Detroit Red Wings who was high in the net in Detroit’s 3-2 win. A game later, he was drawn after giving up three goals in 13 shots. Nedeljkovic was suddenly back in the game.

On Saturday it was Nedeljkovic’s net as he launched between the tubes for the first time since December 8th.

Nedeljkovic had 17 saves and kept Detroit in the game in an offensively challenged contest for Detroit. That’s right, the stat sheet wasn’t flawless for the now clean-shaven Nedeljkovic. But it was a game-changer for the goalie, who just a few years ago was a Calder Trophy finalist.

Detroit to Grand Rapids and back

The last ten games of the season are an opportunity for the 27-year-old to audition for a new contract next season. The 2022-23 season certainly wasn’t what Detroit or Nedeljkovic envisioned. But ice hockey can be a fun sport. When Nedeljkovic was sent down, the trip to Grand Rapids was thought to be temporary – it turned out to last only a few months. Head coach Derek Lalonde insisted at the time that the Red Wings still believed in him.

“We haven’t given up on Ned yet,” Lalonde said. “I have no problem saying that. We like to keep things private when talking about players and the bigger picture. We want to see him fix his game and reassess it from there.

A consistent performance in Grand Rapids has kept Nedeljkovic fit, and in his two appearances since his return he has made 28 saves from 31 attempts. Slowly and steadily.

But so far the game is fine again.

How will this all end with the Red Wings?

With Detroit closely monitoring Husso and certainly doing nothing to push him back, the next ten games will be a chance not only for Nedeljkovic but also for Hellberg to show what they’ve got. When Bally Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson asked Nedeljkovic how much each start meant to him, the keeper’s answer was simple.

“They are huge. Every game has meaning, whether it’s the first or the 82nd,” said Nedeljkovic. “Whatever it is, they all have meaning behind them. You just have to find out what it is and find within yourself what you are playing for.”