Hurricanes Sign Alex Nedeljkovic to Two-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Friday that the team has agreed to terms with RFA goalie Alex Nedeljkovic on a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the organization through the 2020-21 season.

The first year of the contract is two-way, including a guarantee of $125,000. Year two of the deal become one-way, meaning Nedeljkovic will be owed $750,000 regardless of what level he plays at. The Canes are hoping it will be at the NHL level, though.

General manager Don Waddell released the following statement with the signing:

“Alex had an outstanding season in Charlotte last year and was a major part of the Checkers’ success. We expect him to contend for a roster spot with the Hurricanes in training camp.”

Nedeljkovic is coming off of a massive year with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The 23-year-old helped lead them to a Calder Cup Championship during the postseason. During the regular season, he was honored as the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award winner for the most outstanding goalie in the AHL. He went 34-9-5 between the pipes for Charlotte last year with a .916 save percentage and a league-best 2.26 goals against average.

The full news release from the club is below:

RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has re-signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract through the 2020-21 season. In 2019-20, Nedeljkovic will be paid $725,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level with a $125,000 guarantee. In 2020-21, the contract is a one-way deal worth $750,000.

”Alex had an outstanding season in Charlotte last year and was a major part of the Checkers’ success,” said Waddell. ”We expect him to contend for a roster spot with the Hurricanes in training camp.”

Nedeljkovic, 23, won the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding goaltender during the 2018-19 season. He posted a 34-9-5 record with four shutouts, a 2.26 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in the regular season, leading the AHL in wins and goals-against average. The 6’0”, 189-pound goaltender registered a 10-4 record in the postseason, earning the win in all four series-clinching victories as the Checkers captured their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

The Parma, Ohio, native made his first NHL start on Jan. 23 at Vancouver. Nedeljkovic recorded 24 saves in the Hurricanes’ 5-2 win, becoming the fifth goaltender in franchise history to earn a win in his first career NHL start. Nedeljkovic has posted a 73-35-9 record with 10 shutouts, a 2.59 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in 125 career AHL games over three seasons with Charlotte. He has also registered a 14-8 record, 2.25 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 career AHL playoff games. Nedeljkovic was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft.