New Red Wings goaltender Magnus Hellberg is 6'6. He takes up as much net as the walrus in that Geico commercial. (OK, maybe not that much.) He had a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average -- and 24 shutouts -- over the last five seasons in the KHL. The last time he played a game in the NHL, in the 2016-17 season for the Rangers, he beat the Pittsburgh Penguins about two months before they won the Stanley Cup.
But forget all that and consider this: Hellberg might have the most beautiful set of pads in the NHL, custom-made by Brian's to suit his new team. For that reason alone, Hellberg deserves a shot in Detroit's net before the season -- and his contract -- comes to an end.
I mean, come on:
"I have to give credit to Brian's," Hellberg said with a smile after his first practice with the Red Wings Friday at Madison Square Garden. "The guys there taking care of me are really good. I had to (come) here quick and they made a great set for me on a short notice. So credit to Brian's and their designer. The pads are unbelievable. I think they're really nice."
We think so, too.
Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings signed Hellberg, 31, to a one-year contract last week. It could amount to a try-out for next season if Hellberg sees action in Detroit's final eight games. The Wings are unlikely to re-sign Thomas Greiss, a pending unrestricted free agent who's had the worst season of his career, opening a backup job behind Alex Nedeljkovic. Maybe Hellberg can claim it.
First, he'll have to knock off some rust. Because the remainder of the KHL's regular season was cancelled in February due to COVID-19, Hellberg hasn't played a game since the Olympics, where he posted a .927 save percentage in two games for Team Sweden. He's back in the NHL with the intent to stay.
"This is the league I want to be in," he said. "So if I get a couple weeks or longer, for now, it's better than nothing. I'll just take it day by day and try to work as hard as I can to show them who I am and what I stand for."
For Hellberg, a second-round pick of the Predators back in 2011 who's played just four games in the NHL, signing with the Red Wings was a 'no-brainer.' Landing a full-time job with the club would be even better. He certainly looked the part Friday in practice, with the customized helmet to match his pearly pads.
"Obviously it's a classic organization," Hellberg said. "I had Dominik Hasek as an idol growing up when he played here and a lot of big Swedish players have been here throughout the years. When the opportunity came up to finish the season here, it was a no-brainer for me. I felt really excited and inspired to come here and show who I am."
Friday was a full-circle moment of sorts for Hellberg, who returned to the arena where he last played in the NHL. That was five years ago, when current Rangers goaltender and Vezina frontrunner Igor Shesterkin was still playing in the KHL. Hellberg would join him two years later on St. Petersburg SKA where the duo would form one of the best goaltending tandems in the league. Two years after that, Shesterkin was starring on Broadway.
For Hellberg, it's a reminder that the NHL isn't yet out of reach.
"He's a great goalie and a great friend, and it inspires me that a lot of goalies from the KHL can have success in this league," he said. "That gives me an extra spark personally."
