On July 1st, the Pittsburgh Penguins made an unexpected move by trading their backup goalie, Alex Nedeljkovic, to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for three third-round picks in the 2028 NHL Draft. Nedeljkovic, who served as the Penguins’ backup for the past two seasons, was moved by the team’s general manager and president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas.
Nedeljevic will join the Sharks and have the chance to work alongside Yaroslav Askarov in the 2025-26 season, playing behind a squad of young Sharks who are currently rebuilding. One notable young talent is Macklin Celebrini, who finished the 2024-25 season impressively with 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games and is expected to improve further. Other promising players for the Sharks include William Ekland and Will Smith, both poised for significant progress in the coming season.
This trade allows Tristan Jarry to remain the Penguins’ starting goaltender next season unless he is traded. The Penguins reached a breaking point with Jarry last year when he spent multiple stints in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but was brought back due to Joel Bromqvist’s late-season struggles. Jarry’s recall in early March was pivotal, as he showed improved performance, finishing the month with a .907 save percentage, including five starts over .914, and maintaining over .903 in several April games.
With Nedeljkovic’s departure, Bromqvist has a prime chance to claim the backup goalie position during training camp. Bromqvist was considered a leading candidate last offseason before Dubas opted for a two-year deal with Nedeljkovic. Despite gaining NHL experience last season, Bromqvist spent most of his time in the AHL.
If Bromqvist secures the backup role, Sergei Murashov could compete for a starting spot with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, having shown he outgrew the ECHL last season. Murashov played 26 games with the Wheeling Nailers last season, posting a .922 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average, though he struggled in the playoffs partly due to limited team support. He also appeared in 16 AHL games, recording a .913 save percentage and 2.64 goals-against average, and set a franchise record for the longest winning streak (10) in his rookie year with WBS. Murashov is seen as a unique talent with NHL potential, but the Penguins aim to avoid rushing his development.
Philip Larson will also compete for a starting job at WBS after a solid rookie campaign, finishing 26 games with a .910 save percentage and 2.84 goals-against average. Larson was signed following an impressive performance in Sweden’s SHL during the 2023-24 season, where he recorded a .920 save percentage and 1.93 goals-against average in 28 games. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Penguins fans should remember Taylor Gauthier, who has been re-signed by WBS on an AHL contract for the upcoming season and is considered a potential goaltending option. Gauthier played 25 AHL games last season, achieving 10 wins, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.77 goals-against average. Now entering his fourth season with the Penguins organization, Gauthier finished his entry-level contract before signing with WBS in early July.
Gauthier has also excelled in the ECHL, consistently posting impressive numbers with the Wheeling Nailers over the past three seasons. He was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Year for the 2023-24 season after securing 24 wins with a .923 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average, improving further toward the end of the season with a .928 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against average.
While the trade of Nedeljkovic doesn’t entirely solve the Penguins’ goalie logjam, it opens doors for younger players to develop and take the next steps in their careers. Training camps are expected to be highly competitive and exciting when they begin this September.
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Fan Take: This trade signals a significant shift for both the Penguins and Sharks, spotlighting the growing emphasis on nurturing young goaltending talent in the NHL. For fans, it means a thrilling offseason ahead as emerging goalies vie for key roles, potentially reshaping team dynamics and bringing fresh energy to the sport.
