klionaus.blogg.se

That is far from ideal and the would result in having to count Nedeljkovic’s $700,000 salary against the cap. The alternative would have been to keep Nedeljkovic at the NHL level and have three goalies at least short-term. He would need to stay at the NHL level (not be on the taxi squad), so Canes do not really save on salary cap (only $37,500 for his slightly lower salary) but at least still have a #3 goalie available. Second, the Canes save $700,000 in salary cap which is significant.Ģ) If Nedeljkovic is claimed, the Canes at least have a plan B for a #3 with NHL experience in Forsberg. First, Nedeljkovic could play regularly at the AHL level. If Nedeljkovic does clear, best bet is that Forsberg, who was just a short-term insurance policy as a #3 goalie while Nedeljkovic was on waivers, is let go.Īssuming the Hurricanes can keep only one of Nedeljkovic or Forsberg (meaning there is no other bigger trade in progress), then it’s like this…ġ) If Nedeljkovic clears, the Canes likely lose Forsberg back on waivers and gain two things. Either way there is salary cap savings and an NHL roster spot freed up. So what could be going on is that the Hurricanes have reasonable reason/hope to believe that Nedeljkovic will clear waivers in which case, he could reside on the taxi squad without being a salary cap hit or could be sent to the AHL to play on a regular basis. But Nedeljkovic hitting waivers suggests that that is not the case. My first inclination before Nedeljkovic hit waivers was that maybe the Hurricanes were considering a bigger deal to include Reimer or Mrazek to cut salary with the aim of then still being three deep with Forsberg and Nedeljkovic in tow. If the Hurricanes were to try to send Forsberg across waivers to the AHL, the Oilers would certainly use their right to take him back or another team could similarly claim him for an NHL spot. Forsberg would need to stay at the NHL level (not on the taxi squad which would require waivers) to be kept by the Hurricanes.

And the Canes would have four goalies but with the option to send one (Nedeljkovic) to the AHL. If Nedeljkovic is not claimed by tomorrow afternoon, he will be free and clear to return to the AHL level to play and/or to hold a spot on the taxi squad. That is by no means a guarantee for NHL success, but I think that is exactly the type of player that one wants to see get an audition.Īt a basic level, what happened today was that the Hurricanes claimed a free trial on Anton Forsberg and in conjunction offered up a free trial on Alex Nedeljkovic. But with a few bumps along the way at the AHL level, I think it is fair to say that he has mastered each lower level.

He did struggle a bit initially in adjusting to the AHL level before mastering it, so at 25 years old he is on the older side for being considered a ‘prospect’. So putting the machinations of NHL waiver/roster/salary cap rules to the side, I like Forsberg as a proven and capable #3 NHL goalie, but importantly I do not think he has much upside from there at 28 years old.ĭrafted early in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft and having a strong track record in big games (CHL Playoffs, leading role for US juniors teams for his age group, AHL championship), Nedeljkovic can claim as much value as is possible from his pedigree and experience at lower levels. The Hurricanes obtained Curtis McElhinney in a similar situation. In today’s NHL, teams are increasingly paying a third goalie with NHL experience to have depth and stocking them in the AHL when possible. 908 save percentage with a 2.97 save percentage and was not re-signed by the Blackhawks.īased on his age and track record, I view Forsberg as a high-end #3 goalie. His most significant evaluation point for being an NHL regular or late bloomer as a starter came in 2017-18 when he played 35 games for the Blackhawks. He did play three games for the Hurricanes when Reimer and Mrazek were both injured late in the season.įorsberg is 28 years old and has a decent amount of NHL experience with 48 games at the NHL level spanning five seasons. In a related move, the Hurricanes placed goalie Alex Nedeljkovic on waivers possibly to be claimed by this time tomorrow effectively making this a trade.įorsberg is a fairly well-known commodity in these parts having spent the 2019-20 season in the Hurricanes organization primarily at the AHL level. Forsberg was with the Canes primarily in the AHL in 2019-20 before signing with the Oilers as a free agent this off-season. Today the Hurricanes announced that they had claimed Anton Forsberg off of waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.