April 14: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Hellberg has indeed cleared waivers and can now join Detroit for the last few games of the regular season.
April 13: The goaltending for the Detroit Red Wings hasn’t really been up to snuff this season, with 26-year-old Alex Nedeljkovic posting a .900 save percentage in 53 appearances. That’s what makes today’s signing of Magnus Hellberg so interesting. Hellberg has signed a one-year contract. CapFriendly reports that the contract is for this season and includes an $800,000 salary, He now has to clear waivers in order to be eligible to play for the Red Wings down the stretch, and then would be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
This makes things very interesting in Detroit’s crease. Hellberg, 31, was a second-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2011 who had a few cups of coffee in the NHL before leaving for the KHL in 2017. Over the last five seasons he has posted very strong numbers there, registering a .927 save percentage in 169 KHL contests. Add in a .940 in 22 playoff appearances, a World Championship gold medal and a recent Olympic appearance for Sweden, and Hellberg’s resume is pretty impressive.
He could potentially take the spot of Thomas Greiss, who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and offer a potential tandem option for Nedeljkovic who is set to become a UFA in the summer of 2023. The Red Wings have Sebastian Cossa on his way, but the first-round pick is still just 19 and still a ways off being an NHL starter.
Hellberg at the very least offers them a depth piece for the organization as they try to transition from rebuilding to contending, and an experienced one at that. The fact that he is 6’6″ and fills nearly the entire net certainly doesn’t hurt.
Very wise signing. Hellberg has decent talent. He would form a good pairing with Nedeljkovic. Hellberg is a clear upgrade on Greiss.
Anyone still questioning Carolinas off season moves?
Yes
confirmation bias. CAR made several questionable moves. even if they win the Cup, that doesn’t make them objectively good moves.
Yes. They did nothing to change the fact that they are a regular season team and not built for the playoffs. They will get bounced again.
Ned is bigly overrated. Not sure why people were trying to make him out as some Spencer Knight-level goaltending prospect (The cover of a recent Hockey News?!) He’s a backup on a good team.
Uhhh what? Are you unaware of Detroits defence and how any goalie in the top of stats this season would have just as shitty numbers? Hes stolen more than a few games and rarely lets in a goal that he shouldnt have saved. And hes still a rookie
Why does he need to clear waivers to play on the NHL team? I’m not familiar with the rules and cannot find anything to explain it. Can someone reference the section of the CBA, or another article, that explains this? Much appreciated.
13.23 : In the event a professional or former professional Player plays in a league outside North America after the start of the NHL Regular Season, other than on Loan from his Club, he may thereafter play in the NHL during that Playing Season (including Playoffs) only if he has first either cleared or been obtained via Waivers. For the balance of the Playing Season, any such Player who has been obtained via Waivers may be Traded or Loaned only after again clearing Waivers or through Waiver claim. This section shall not apply to a Player on the Reserve List or Restricted Free Agent List of an NHL Club with whom the Player is signing an NHL SPC or is party to an existing SPC with such NHL Club.
As an example, the Maple Leafs signed Harri Sateri out of the KHL at the trade deadline, who then needed waivers and ended up with Arizona.
Toronto must now be satisfied with what they have! LOL
46 save shutout heck yea ! Carolina gonna be 1 and done this yr again.