(Photo by Seth Wenig/AP)

It’s the dead of August, and as we look forward to the Penguins’ 2023-24 season officially kicking off, there are some not often talked about storylines that are at least worth a look before the season starts. 

One such is the backup job to Tristan Jarry. 

With Casey DeSmith being a part of the Erik Karlsson trade, it seems like Alex Nedeljkoic, the Penguins’ free agency signing back in July, is set to be the new backup. 

Just a few days ago I wrote about Nedeljkovic’s chances of turning his career around here in Pittsburgh, and while a change of scenery could help Nedeljkovic out, that’s not guaranteed. Add that to Pittsburgh’s potential third-string goaltender, Magnus Hellberg, who could have an outside chance at the NHL backup job.

Hellberg has little NHL experience, just 23 total games, including 18 last season (more on that later), but with Nedeljkovic coming off a very rough two years, his job certainty might not be 100%. 

So with that, does the 6’ 6, 32 year old Swede pose any threat to Nedeljkovic’s job? 

Now before you jump on me: I know it’s a very long shot question, given several factors, most notably Hellberg’s very limited NHL profile. But this exact scenario, where Hellberg stepped in and took Ned’s job, has happened before. 

Over in Detroit last season, Alex Nedeljkovic was in the second (and final) year of his two-year deal he signed with the Red Wings. After a subpar first year, the second year was becoming a disaster, and he was struggling so mightily that the Red Wings had no choice but to make a move. 

Detroit placed Nedeljkovic on waivers, before sending him down to AHL Grand Rapids. Ned went unclaimed, and Detroit replaced him with the journeyman Magnus Hellberg. 

Hellberg, who prior to last season had just 5 NHL games to his name (only 3 of which were starts), played in 18 contests for the Red Wings last season. His save percentage was a measly .885, but in his defense, no Red Wings goaltender was above a .900 last season, with the highest being Ville Husso’s .896. 

Husso would go down with injury mid-March, forcing the Red Wings to bring Nedeljkovic back up to the NHL club, where he would battle with Hellberg for starts. 

From March 20th to April 4th, the Red Wings were without Husso for seven games. Of those games, Nedeljkovic started in four while Hellberg started in three (and was pulled in one game in favor of Ned). 

Nedeljkovic, to his credit, got the win in three of his four starts, while Hellberg got just one in three. Neither goalie’s numbers were stellar, and Nedeljkovic typically had more goal support as opposed to Hellberg. 

After Husso returned, both Hellberg and Ned saw the net just once more before the season was over. 

Now, both goaltenders find themselves on the same team again, now here in Pittsburgh. Nedeljkovic is here on a $1.5 million dollar deal, while Hellberg is being paid nearly half at $785K. Interestingly though, Hellberg’s contract is one-way, meaning his NHL and AHL salary is the same, and more importantly, his contract counts towards the salary cap no matter where he plays. 

Also of note: Nedeljkovic, a Calder Trophy finalist in 2021, was on waivers in December last season, and went unclaimed. Hellberg, meanwhile, was an addition Detroit made to the organization by claiming him off waivers. And it was far from Hellberg’s first time on waivers. 

The netminder had been claimed off waivers three different times last season, the last of which was Detroit, where he found a home for the season after the Red Wings opted to use him in lieu of Nedeljkovic. 

If Nedeljkovic doesn’t have a good start with the Penguins, is it possible we see Magnus Hellberg up with the Penguins? 

Hellberg played one other NHL game in 2022-23, and that was for the Ottawa Senators. In that game, he posted a .935 save percentage, which was very in line with his numbers in 4 AHL starts with Grand Rapids this season (.932 with Detroit’s AHL team). 

He does not have a large amount of NHL-level experience, but Hellberg has put up solid numbers at several other levels and with various other teams, including KHL teams and international play. 

If there’s anything the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions in Vegas taught us, it’s that goaltending depth is crucial. The story of Adin Hill is amazing, but it’s also a clear reminder that an organization needs to have good goaltender all throughout, or else it can cost them a Cup. 

The Penguins know that all too well, having lost back to back playoff series against a team from New York because of god awful goaltending or lack of depth. 

It’s likely that the Hellberg signing is just that, a depth move to ensure the Penguins, as an organization, have added some extra depth within the team. 

But I wouldn’t blame you if you weren’t sold on Nedeljkovic as the backup goalie here in Pittsburgh, and it’s presence of Hellberg, who has already taken Ned’s job once, is at the very least a little intriguing, even if nothing comes of it.