Hurricanes trade Nedeljkovic to Red Wings for Bernier, 3rd-round pick

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to the Detroit Red Wings for the rights to unrestricted free agent netminder Jonathan Bernier and a third-round pick in 2021, the teams announced Thursday.

The Red Wings then agreed to terms with Nedeljkovic on a two-year contract worth $3 million per season, the team confirmed.

Nedeljkovic was a finalist for the Calder Trophy this past season. The 25-year-old went 15-5-3 in the regular season and emerged as Carolina's starter over Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Nedeljkovic posted a .932 save percentage and 15.7 goals saved above average across 23 appearances and had a .920 clip in nine playoff games.

The Hurricanes tried to sign Nedeljkovic but couldn't get a deal done and wanted to avoid arbitration, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Carolina has not yet struck a deal with Bernier but has $29 million in cap space to ink the veteran goalie and a backup. Both Mrazek and Reimer are UFAs this offseason as well.

Bernier, 32, has spent the past three seasons in Detroit, posting a .914 save percentage this past season while winning nine of 23 starts for the rebuilding Red Wings.