The Sharks have acquired a goaltender, picking up Alex Nedeljkovic from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks are sending a 2028 3rd-round pick to complete the deal.
The Sharks needed to add a goalie to platoon with Askarov this coming season, and they have settled on Nedeljkovic to fill this role for them next season. The American netminder has 1 year left, worth 2.5 million next season.
Nedeljkovic played in 38 games last season, posting a 894% save percentage, a downgrade from his career 903% save percentage. This aside, Nedeljkovic has proven he can handle 30-plus games, having hit that mark three times in his career, and also doesn't block Askarov from taking the reins if he proves to be ready. Given the weak goalie class this year, he is not a bad get compared to other available options.
The Sharks have done an excellent job over the years at helping goaltenders revitalize their game in teal. And could look to work with Nedljkovic to recapture the upside he should have had early on in his career, similar to what they did with Mackenzie Blackwood.
A 3rd-round pick is probably a little rich for my taste, but it is in 2028, and it's nothing to get upset about. Grier has made a habit of trading mid-round picks and recouping them later. This can be seen by looking at the Sharks' 2025 draft class, where, despite making no trades on draft day, they made two picks out of 9 with their own selections. So I expect Grier to regain that pick at some point down the line.
The Sharks have addressed many of their holes today, and this move shores up the crease for the Sharks. I expect they will look to add another depth netminder as an option for the Cuda, as they are relatively unproven in terms of depth, with Gabriel Carrier being the only other goaltender under contract next season, aside from Askarov and Nedeljkovic.