The Detroit Red Wings battle for the crease continues to intensify as the club appears content to foster three netminders for the duration of the season.
It’s not uncommon for an organization to identify and correct a weakness. Still, it seems as though general manager Steve Yzerman wanted to ensure that head coach Derek Lalonde would not go through what he had to endure last
season; he needed to shore up the backup goaltending position. Last season, the Detroit Red Wings did not have a formidable backup goaltending option. Although starter Ville Husso held down the cage for the better part of the season, his play
decreased dramatically as the season went on and he grew weary. Husso had never been a featured goalie before. Yzerman’s interest in Husso starting for Detroit was sparked by his performance against Jordan Binnington in his last season with the St. Louis Blues.
Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg were unable to provide the Detroit Red Wings with any reliable play. Nedeljkovic supported the Red Wings’ 5-7-2 record with a.895 save percentage and a 3.53 goals-against average. Hellberg finished 4-8-1 and had a.885save percentage and an average of 3.29 goals against. Having said that, Nedeljkovic has recovered in his little play this season as Pittsburgh’s backup. With the Penguins, he has made four starts and is 2-2 with a strong.937 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average. This past summer, Kyle Dubas, general manager and president of the Penguins, signed both of the Red Wings’ castaways. With three Penguins appearances this season, Hellberg has a 2.50 goals-against average and a.922 save percentage.To be fair, there is more of a goaltending carousel than a goaltender controversy in Detroit—the latter being more between fans on social media. During practice, this trio seems to get along well and push one another. Early in the season, Lalonde had been starting Husso in two straight games and then veteran James Reimer in one. That had been the lineup for a while, and although Husso continued struggling where he left off at the end of the previous season, Reimer fared better. Lately, Alex Lyon has been
