#NHLDraft21 Preview: Red Wings make splash with huge trade on Draft Eve

DETROIT -- In a busy week in which the NHL held the 2021 Expansion Draft, announced the 2021-22 schedule and is set to host the 2021 Entry Draft, Steve Yzerman shook up the Red Wings' roster Thursday,
announcing Detroit acquired goalie Alex Nedeljkovic in a trade
for unrestricted free-agent goaltender Jonathan Bernier and a 2021 third-round pick.
The 25-year-old Nedeljkovic was a Calder Trophy finalist for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, going 15-5-3 with a league-leading .932 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average. He earned three shutouts in 2020-21 and helped the Central Division-leading Hurricanes reach the second round of the playoffs.

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The 2020-21 Rookie of the Year candidate has Michigan ties as a former Plymouth Whalers netminder and Team USA representative, and Yzerman said the Red Wings are excited for the potential that Nedeljkovic brings to Detroit.
"Obviously, we have high hopes for Alex based on his performance this year in Carolina," the Red Wings' executive vice president and general manager said after the trade. "We're pretty excited about it. He did very well this year. Everyone in our organization is familiar with him from his local ties, playing junior, so 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 has spent his offseasons in Michigan for the past 10-plus years and said he was thrilled to hear about the trade to Detroit.
"We were very excited and very happy that things worked out," Nedeljkovic said Friday, noting he was surprised by the trade. "I couldn't have been more excited to get back here and be able to call it home year-round."
The Red Wings also agreed to terms with Nedeljkovic on a two-year deal on Thursday, and Yzerman said he thinks the 6-foot, 201-pound netminder could be Detroit's goalie of the future.
"It's a chance to get a younger goaltender," Yzerman said. "The kids that we have in our system are probably a ways off from playing in the NHL. With Thomas Greiss under contract for one more season, we tried to bring in a younger goaltender that has some upside and potential to be our starter for a number of years."
Nedeljkovic said he has tremendous respect for Yzerman and he hopes to help the Red Wings get back to the winning tradition that Yzerman built as a player.
"Obviously Steve's one of the greatest players to play the game," Nedeljkovic said. "And the last few years since he's been in charge, things have kind of been going in the right direction with this team and (I'm) just very excited to 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."

Rasmussen Re-Signed

The Red Wings also signed one of their nine restricted free agents Thursday as they agreed to terms with 22-year-old center Michael Rasmussen on a three-year deal.
Rasmussen, who Detroit selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has tallied 30 points (11-19-30) in 102 games throughout his first two NHL seasons.
Rasmussen said he's excited to continue playing for Detroit and added he was relieved to get the deal done during the offseason so he can focus on preparing for the 2021-22 campaign.
"I'm really excited," Rasmussen said Friday morning. "I'm happy, obviously, to get it done, but to get it done early is really good. (I'm going to) keep working and getting ready for the season. To get it done is nice, just focus on hockey now, just keep trying to get better."
The 6-foot-6, 229-pound center earned a much bigger role in 2020-21, averaging almost three minutes more of ice time per game than in 2019-20 and ranking second on the club with 72 hits and fourth with 134 face-off wins.
"I was pleased for sure. I think it was a big year for me," Rasmussen said about his performance last season. "I started in GR, I had good people around me to support me, and once I got to Detroit, I just tried my best to contribute and play my game and play with confidence, play hard. So I think it was definitely positive for me and I think it's just a good stepping stone."

A Draft Unlike Any Other

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 NHL Draft is expected to be one of the most unpredictable drafts in modern history.
In several countries, leagues were canceled, scouts and players had travel restrictions and prospects were forced to miss time because of illness or league protocols.
"In some cases, you're talking about players who didn't play this year," Yzerman said. "For our scouting staff, it was a challenge for them to see some of the players, to travel, to get to certain locations. We were limited in our ability for the U.S. guys to get into Canada, limited to get into Europe. I would guess this draft class is the most unpredictable of generally a very unpredictable process."
But Yzerman said director of amateur scouting Kris Draper and his staff did everything they could to prepare for the draft and he's confident the Wings will select an extremely talented player.
"We scouted and assessed the same way, just a lot of it was more video," he said. "It has been challenging, but I think Kris and his staff have been very diligent and very thorough and really done the best they could. But I think we got all the areas covered that we could see. It's just a little bit more unpredictable."
While the Red Wings acquired Nedeljkovic and
defenseman Nick Leddy
this week to solidify their goaltending and defensive corps, respectively, Yzerman said he's open to the possibility of all positions on Day 1 of the Draft.
"We're going to pick who has the most potential with the sixth pick, regardless of position," Yzerman said. "Where we are and where we're picking and the age of the kids, it's too hard to really draft for a specific need. I believe in our situation, in the NHL, that you take who you feel is the best prospect.
"We're trying to improve our team. Ultimately, our goal is to build a playoff team, a Stanley Cup contender."
The Red Wings are
hosting the second annual #LGRW Draft Party
on Friday, starting at 6 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.
The 2021 NHL Draft
begins with first-round coverage at 8 p.m., and Rounds 2-7 will take place Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.