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A Look At The Future Of Carolina Hurricanes Goaltending

By Alex Ohari

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 30: Alex Nedeljkovic #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes is photographed during pregame warm ups prior to an NHL game on March 30, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 30: Alex Nedeljkovic #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes is photographed during pregame warm ups prior to an NHL game on March 30, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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HERSHEY, PA – FEBRUARY 09: Charlotte Checkers goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (30) watches a shot from the slot during the Charlotte Checkers vs. Hershey Bears AHL game February 9, 2019 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HERSHEY, PA – FEBRUARY 09: Charlotte Checkers goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (30) watches a shot from the slot during the Charlotte Checkers vs. Hershey Bears AHL game February 9, 2019 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Alex Nedeljkovic

The story of Alex Nedeljkovic has been in development for what feels to be an eternity, but has yet to be told. When he was selected 37th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes way back in 2014, fresh off winning the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year award as a 17 year old, expectations were high. Especially considering the state of the Canes’ goaltending back then.

Obviously, goaltenders are always more of a long-term project. Taking a look back at the 2014 draft, no goaltender was selected in the first round. Mason McDonald was the first goalie drafted, and currently plays in the ECHL. Only 5 goalies from that draft have started NHL games: Thatcher Demko (23), Elvis Merzlikins (16), Kaapo Kahkonen (5), Igor Shesterkin (2) and Alex Nedeljkovic (1). In total, 21 goalies selected, with a combined 47 starts. Underwhelming to say the least.

Fortunately for Nedeljkovic, he looks to be well on his way to break the trend of that 2014 goalie class. Last season, he posted a 34-14-1 record with a 2.26 GAA and a .916 save percentage for the Charlotte Checkers, and was awarded the AHL Goaltender of the Year award. He also led the Checkers to win the Calder Cup, with a .916 save% in 15 playoff games.

On top of his AHL success, he also started his first NHL game in Vancouver. The Carolina Hurricanes won that game 5-2, with Nedeljkovic stopping 24 of 26 shots and looking like he belonged in the Canes’ crease. Many assumed, after the conclusion of last season with Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney both unrestricted free agents, that the Canes would likely move on from one of them and give Nedeljkovic his rightful chance.

That never happened. Mrazek was re-signed, and Scott Darling was dumped to bring in James Reimer to compete with Nedeljkovic and newly-acquired Anton Forsberg in training camp. Reimer’s experience, along with his $3.4 million salary was too much for Nedeljkovic to overcome, and he found himself back with the Checkers.

After a treacherous start to the season, where he allowed 11 goals on 52 shots and lost his first 3 starts, Nedeljkovic has been on an absolute tear of late, and fans have called for him when Mrazek and Reimer have struggled. In Nedeljkovic’s past 16 starts for Charlotte, he’s posted a 10-5-1 record with an impressive 2.00 GAA and a .926 save percentage, with 3 shutouts.

His brilliance at the AHL level inspires confidence for his NHL future. Looking towards that, Nedeljkovic is signed on a one-way deal for next season, and cannot be assigned to Charlotte without passing through NHL waivers. If Carolina has any faith in Nedeljkovic’s future, they won’t take that risk, and he’ll be on the team next year.

What exactly to expect from Nedeljkovic at the NHL level is obviously a mystery, but he’s been thought of to have starting potential dating back to his pre-Draft days. With Mrazek and Reimer also signed through next year, it’ll be interesting to see Carolina’s strategy this offseason. They likely won’t keep both of them (both guys have 3M+ cap hits, opposed to Nedeljkovic at 737K).

So as of today, I would fully expect to see Nedeljkovic as a regular in the Canes crease next season, likely splitting time with one of Mrazek/Reimer. Nedeljkovic is set to be an RFA after next season, so he’s got a lot to prove next year if he plans on being a long-term fixture for Hurricanes goaltending. He definitely has the talent to do it, but time will tell.

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