Magnus Hellberg excited for another chance with Red Wings during ‘whirlwind’ season

Magnus Hellberg joined the Red Wings for the morning skate Friday, still wearing his Ottawa Senators goalie pads. (Ansar Khan/MLive)

DETROIT – Traveling across North America with his fiancée and dog, Magnus Hellberg has gone from Seattle to Ottawa, back to the Pacific Northwest and now to Detroit in less than two months.

He has been claimed off waivers three times before Thanksgiving, which might be a record, if the NHL kept track of such things. The Red Wings claimed him on Wednesday in a surprise move, giving them three healthy goaltenders.

“It’s been quite the whirlwind,” Hellberg said. “Going into the season, me and my family, we kind of knew that it could be a season like this, trying to break into the league. I think I have to take it as a compliment that teams have the confidence in picking me up. I think it’s just that I’m doing something good. I prepared mentally for it before the season.”

Hellberg, 31, joined the Red Wings Friday for the morning skate prior to the game against Arizona at Little Caesars Arena (8 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit). As the third goalie behind Ville Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic, there is no telling when he will play, let alone dress as the back-up.

“I’m just going to come here and work hard every day and do what I do,” Hellberg said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Coach Derek Lalonde said the move was made in case of injury to one of their goalies and facilitated by their available roster spot. It was influenced by their familiarity with Hellberg, who signed with the Red Wings late last season following a five-year stint in the KHL and played the season finale at New Jersey, a 5-3 victory.

“I know it’s a great group of guys here,” Hellberg said. “I got to know the organization last year, so I’m excited to be back.”

Hellberg signed a one-year, one-way $750,000 contract with the Kraken two hours into free agency on July 13.

“I think there were multiple teams interested that we were talking to. When it came down to it, Seattle was the best fit at that moment,” Hellberg said. “Free agency goes pretty fast. I had to make quick decisions. But obviously I had a great stint here in Detroit at the end of last season and it’s a great organization.”

Hellberg donned his black and gold Ottawa Senators pads at the skate but will be getting his Red Wings pads shipped to him next week.

“I skated with them this summer in Sweden,” he said. “They’re in my storage unit back home but I already talked to one of my best buddies to go there and ship them out here.

“Since they’re almost brand new, there’s no point ordering new ones and have to break them in. They’re already broken in, ready to go.”

Having three goalies puts a premium on practice reps.

“Good communication is key and make sure everybody gets the work in they need,” Hellberg said. “Obviously, the guy who’s playing has their own net and then the guys that are not playing maybe share a little bit more.”

Hellberg would need to clear waivers to be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The way the season has gone, he’d probably be claimed a fourth time if waived.

And once again, he, his fiancée and his dog would be on the move.

“It’s a lot of credit to her to keep up with this,” Hellberg said. “It’s not easy for her to be along on this journey but it’s great having her by my side, supporting us in all this stuff.”

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