Nedeljkovic traded to Red Wings by Hurricanes for Bernier

Alex Nedeljkovic was traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday for Jonathan Bernier.

Carolina also received a third-round pick (No. 94) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Nedeljkovic, a goalie who could have become a restricted free agent July 28, agreed to a two-year contract with Detroit. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Honestly, it was kind of like out of the blue," Nedeljkovic said Friday. "We really weren't expecting to get moved, so the trade itself was really kind of like, just out of nowhere. But when we heard that Detroit was interested and they wanted to make a trade, we were very excited and very happy that things worked out.

"[My agent] came to me with a few things, a few offers that Carolina had made, and we discussed them, and ultimately where they were and where we were, it wasn't on the same page. Like I said before, this is a business as much as it is a game nowadays, so we have to do what's best for us sometimes, the team has to do what's best for them, and we just couldn't come to an agreement. Fortunately, like I said, we were able to move on and get moved to a great organization and a place that fits perfectly for us in our personal lives too."

The 25-year-old was 15-5-3 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 23 games for the Hurricanes this season. Voted a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, Nedeljkovic was first among goalies in GAA and save percentage (minimum 20 games) and tied for the rookie lead in shutouts (three) with Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders.

"Obviously we have high hopes for Alex based on his performance this year in Carolina," Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said Thursday. "Younger guy with who we feel has a lot of upside. … He did very well this year. Everyone in our organization is familiar with him from his local ties, playing junior (with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League from 2012-15) and whatnot. We know his character, his work ethic, his competitiveness, and watching him play this year, we felt it was a good opportunity to get somewhat of a younger goaltender with still some upside and can help us win more games."

Nedeljkovic said he's pleased to have Yzerman's support.

"It's great to hear that," he said. "Obviously Steve's one of the greatest players to play the game and the last few years, since he's been in charge, things have kind of been going in the right direction for this team. Just very excited to, like I said, get an opportunity to play and hopefully play a lot and try to turn this organization around and get back to the winning ways it was not too long ago."

Nedeljkovic allowed two goals or fewer in 16 of his 23 starts and helped the Hurricanes finish first in the eight-team Discover Central Division. He was 4-5 with a 2.17 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games, his only NHL playoff experience. The Hurricanes lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the second round.

Bernier, who will turn 33 on Aug. 7, can become an unrestricted free agent July 28. The goalie was 9-11-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .914 save percentage in 24 games (23 starts) for the Red Wings this season.

Detroit tied the Columbus Blue Jackets for seventh in the Central and has failed to qualify for the playoffs each of the past five seasons after making it 25 straight seasons.

"For us, we had a decision to make," Yzerman said. "We had Jonathan Bernier obviously here, was a pending UFA, and then again, had some discussions with Carolina regarding Alex and for us again, it's a chance to get a younger goaltender. The kids that we have in our system are probably a ways off from playing in the NHL, and we thought this was a good, with Thomas Greiss under contract for one more season, try to bring in a younger goaltender that has some upside and that has potential to be our starter for a number of years. [Nedeljkovic is] relatively inexperienced at the NHL level, but we think he's got real good potential and has a chance to play for us for a number of years."

Greiss was 8-15-8 with a 2.70 GAA and .912 save percentage in 34 games (29 starts) this season.

Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (No. 11) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Bernier is 161-159-39 with a 2.77 GAA, .913 save percentage and 18 shutouts in 394 regular-season games (355 starts) with the Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Kings. He is 2-5 with a 3.35 GAA and .885 save percentage in nine playoff games (five starts) and won the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2012.

NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika contributed to this report