Saturday: Nedeljkovic’s stint in the minors was short-lived as the team announced that he has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He made 33 saves on 36 shots in their victory over Lehigh Valley.
Thursday: Alex Nedeljkovic is on the verge of returning from his lower-body injury, as the team announced they’d activated him from injured reserve and assigned him to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning loan. He’ll now count against the 23-man roster limit, but Pittsburgh had an open spot after sending Rutger McGroarty to the minors yesterday, so no corresponding transaction is necessary.
Nedeljkovic hasn’t played at all this season after sustaining the injury during an exhibition game against the Red Wings on Sep. 30. He was listed as week-to-week a couple of days later and landed on IR when the Penguins announced their opening night roster. He did end up missing well over the seven days required for an IR placement, but it’s clear now he wouldn’t have been out long enough to land on LTIR.
The 28-year-old can remain in the AHL for up to 14 days on his conditioning stint, but once he returns, he’s expected to challenge for a 1A/starting role in Pittsburgh. He took over those duties down the stretch last season, finishing the campaign with an 18-7-7 record and .902 SV% in 38 appearances. Even with those pedestrian numbers, that’s certainly a better option than what the more established Tristan Jarry has given them to start this season. Jarry also struggled to the tune of a rather average .903 SV% last year and is off to a tough start this October with a .833 SV% and 5.47 GAA in three starts.
With Nedeljkovic soon returning, there’s a legitimate argument to be made that Jarry has fallen to No. 3 on Pittsburgh’s goaltending depth chart. 22-year-old Joel Blomqvist made the opening night roster with Nedeljkovic injured and has been the superior option in a limited sample, making 84 saves on 92 shots faced for a .913 SV% in his first three career NHL appearances. For a team with playoff aspirations, it’ll be hard to justify sending the waiver-exempt Blomqvist to the minors at the expense of keeping Jarry, meaning the latter could potentially end up on waivers with four years left on his five-year, $26.88MM deal. There’s no rush, though, as the Pens are cap-compliant with 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goalies.
They need to find a way out of Jarry’s contract and roll with Ned and Blomqvist. Could find better ways to spend that contract money elsewhere instead. Even if you have to retain on his deal it’s still a better option imo.
That ridiculous contract will make him hard to move. I wouldn’t mind taking a shot on him as a backup goalie if Pittsburgh ate some money, but the term left just wouldn’t make it worth it.
No way he’s traded. He will be waived at some point if he keeps it up, but he will still hit the cap for the most part
I think the best they can do is swap him for another struggling goalie like Merzlikins or Gibson and hope the change of scenery works.
Pittsburgh has used all of its salary retention slots so it cannot eat a portion of Jarry’s salary.
They’ve only used two out of their three (Petry, R. Smith). They do have one open retention slot. Buyouts don’t count toward that limit.
Well, that changes in the off season and no one is making that trade during the season anyway
Unless Jarry has a no movement clause he needs a permanent assignment to the AHL.
No one is going to take his contract and the Pens have used all their retention slots.
He can be waived
I didn’t know they used them all, I’m pretty sure he has a no movement clause. I’d say if the length was two years shorter a high pick could sweeten it but with that term I doubt it. He and Graves are the two worst contracts I’ve seen in recent memory.
Jarry does not have an NMC. Just a 12-team no-trade list
based off puckpedia,they still got one retenton spot open and he only has a 12 team no trade
JMikes…Add Karlsson to that list
Thanks for the updated information on that. I’d definitely be checking with whatever teams aren’t on his list to see what it might take to make a deal. They have to try to unload that albatross contract, I’d put anything on the table to do it. A pick and or retain if need be.
another kyle dubas masterclass
If you look back, Jarry was the best UFA available at the time, Korpisalo was 2nd. Penguins fans were pining for Hellebuyck but there’s no way that was going to happen. Gibson probably would have been a disaster. There really weren’t any great options at that time…
and for that Slayer fan, on and on, south of heaven…
kyle dumbass more likely
It’s time to acknowledge The Curse of the Flower.
We’ve (more or less) had bad and leaky goaltending ever since trading Marc.
Matt Murray broke his hand, his dad died and he was never the same player. Jarry has shown nice flashes but then soils the bed all the time. Blomqvist might be the guy one day, but right now he’s been average at best, only looking good next to Jarry.
As of now, the only readily available solution to is to cross your fingers that Ned will be solid.