from Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Management is banking on Nedeljkovic finding a way to shake off two unappetizing seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and regaining the form that allowed him to be selected to the NHL All-Rookie team in 2020-21 as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.

“(Nedeljkovic is) a guy that brings real good energy to the rink every day,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s shown an ability to have success in this league, and we think he’s very capable. He’s going to be a great fit for us. Sometimes, a change of scenery for a player makes all the difference in the world in giving certain players opportunities to kind of hit the reset button in just trying to establish their game again. We’re going to do our best to help (Nedeljkovic) do that.”...

What followed were a pair of difficult seasons in the Motor City, particularly the 2022-23 campaign when Nedeljkovic was waived this past January (going unclaimed) and he played more games with the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins (26), than the NHL club (15).

After posting a 5-7-2 mark with a 3.53 GAA and an .895 save percentage at the NHL level last season, Nedeljkovic was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent by the Red Wings.

“I wasn’t in my own way,” said Nedeljkovic, listed at 6-foot and 208 pounds. “Those years in Carolina, I wasn’t (overthinking). I wasn’t overreacting. I was just playing my game, doing my thing and staying on pucks and staying loose. As opposed to the last couple of years, maybe just overthinking plays, overthinking situations and just trying too hard to stop the puck instead of just letting it come to me.”

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