NEW YORK — Magnus Hellberg is short on time and big on ambition, but this was an opportunity too good not to grab.
The amiable 6-foot-6 Swede took part in Detroit Red Wings practice Friday, the day after arriving in the city once his immigration issues finally cleared. He has an $800,000 contract through the end of the season, which is two weeks away. He hasn’t played in a game since February, when he represented Sweden at the Olympics. But it has been five years since the 31-year-old last appeared in the NHL, and the Wings hold a special attraction.
“It’s a classy organization,” Hellberg said Friday. “I had Dominik Hasek as an idol growing up, when he was here. A lot of Swedish players, big players, have been here throughout the years. The window of opportunity came up to finish the season here and it was a no-brainer for me. I felt really excited and inspired to come here and show who I am.”
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Here’s who he’d like to be: The guy who earns the job to form next season’s goaltending tandem with Alex Nedeljkovic. Thomas Greiss’ contract is up, he’s 36 and has been inconsistent. The Wings need help in goal, and they’ve been trying to bring in Hellberg for a look since late last month, when Greiss suffered a concussion March 24 and third-stringer Calvin Pickard got hurt March 27.
“There was a time when we weren’t sure where Greiss was at,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “Pick got hurt, Greiss was hurt. So then you’re looking at your group and not sure if you’re going to have enough goalies to finish. Ultimately, management made the decision to bring Magnus in and it gives us a chance to get a look at him.
“He’s a big man, seems to fill the net well. It’s hard to get a great feel for somebody in the course of 25 minutes, but he’s a very, very nice person who seems to have confidence.”
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All Blashill would say regarding when Hellberg might play was that he would not be in Saturday’s game at the New York Rangers. The Wings play another day game on Sunday, against the Florida Panthers, and then play at the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday and at Florida Thursday. The last home game is April 23, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Unless the Wings want to baptize Hellberg against a playoff-bound team, the likely scenario is April 24 at the New Jersey Devils. “I don’t have a clear-cut plan,” Blashill said.
Hellberg spent 2021-22 with HK Sochi in the KHL, posted a .917 save percentage and 2.42 goals-against average in 37 games. The NHL résumé for the 2011 second-rounder (No. 38 overall by Nashville) spans four games and lists a 2.71 GAA and .868 save percentage. He’s a long shot, but there was nothing to lose in at least taking it.
If it works out, Hellberg may have a job with the Wings next season.
“This is the league I want to be in, so if I get a couple weeks or longer, it’s better than nothing,” Hellberg said. “I just take it day by day, try to work as hard as I can and show them who I am and what I stand for.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.