Penguins re-sign Alex Nedeljkovic for two years

Pittsburgh brings back goalie

Alex Nedeljkovic started the final 13 games of the 2023-24 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. After news broke on Thursday, Nedeljkovic will be sticking around to play some more games for the Pens. The team announced the impending free agent goalie inked a two year contract with a $2.5 million annual cap hit.

Nedeljkovic, 28, signed a one-year deal for last season as something of a redemption project. He ended up providing a big spark and generating a lot of good vibes, even if the results and hard data from his play ended up being only so-so.

But after a strong finish to the season, Penguin brass and coaches are believers. Nedeljkovic earned a $1 million raise off his salary last season and gets the security of a second year on his contract as a result of his positive ending to the year.

With Nedeljkovic in the fold, the question in the goaltending crease for the Pens turns to Tristan Jarry’s future. Around the league, two high-paid starting goalies have been traded in recent days (Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kuemper). Joel Blomqvist has been blossoming into the goalie of the future in Pittsburgh based on his pedigree and AHL play. The Nedeljkovic re-signing creates a logjam for Blomqvist that will eventually have to be solved, but goalie situations tend to work themselves out, and teams always favor carrying more depth than less.

Such an urge for depth, combined with the positive results by Nedeljkovic last season has earned him another contract. Whether this transaction will end up being the first or final one for Penguin netminders this off-season will be a fascinating storyline to track as the NHL’s silly season with off ice moves kicks into high gear.