Shocking: Pittsburgh Peguins Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic sends Retirement note due to worsen health issues as…

With the possible exception of Sidney Crosby’s individual efforts, the play of Alex Nedeljkovic would probably rank atop the short list of reasons why the dysfunctional Pittsburgh Penguins made a late-season push for the playoffs last season.

Nedeljkovic supplanted Tristan Jarry as the No. 1 goaltender in late March and went on to start the final 13 games of the season, going 8-1-3 with a 3.05 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.

His effort wasn’t enough, though as the Penguins fell short of the playoffs by three points and missed the postseason for the second straight year.

But that stretch of play, in addition to Nedeljkovic’s 18-7-7 record on the season, led president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas to ink the 28-year-old to a two-year extension in June worth $2.5 million annually.

“I expressed my feelings in wanting to come back, enjoyed my time being here last year and enjoyed playing with this group of guys that we had,” Nedeljkovic said by video conference Wednesday.

“(I) have a good relationship with (goaltending coach Andy Chiodo) and (Tristan Jarry) — thought we pushed each other really well, and I wanted to do it again.”

Nedeljkovic and Jarry pushing each other surely will be a major storyline during preseason camp and potentially throughout the year.

Jarry, who still has four years remaining on a five-year deal signed last summer worth $5.375 million annually, was inconsistent last season.

As a result, when the Penguins were desperate to make a playoff push at the end of March, coach Mike Sullivan went with Nedeljkovic, riding with the hot hand.

Doing so meant demoting Jarry, who was 19-25-5 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .903 save percentage on the season.

Despite what could easily be perceived as an awkward end-of-season arrangement, by all accounts, Jarry and Nedeljkovic got along fine in their first year as teammates, even when their roles as starter and backup were reversed.

In fact, their relationship was one of several reasons Nedeljkovic was attracted to the prospect of remaining in Pittsburgh.

“He was one of the first ones to text me when I re-signed to say, ‘Congrats and welcome back. I’m looking forward to getting back at it together,’” Nedeljkovic said. “It’s the same thing I’ve said before — one of the reasons I wanted to come back (is) I wanted to work with him. I wanted to help push and make him better, and I wanted him to push me and make me better, as well.

“The two of us, I think we can really, at times when needed, put the team on our back and help get us through some sticky situations when they come.”

Before he re-signed with the Penguins, Nedeljkovic headed overseas to Czechia in May, where he suited up for the United States at the IIHF World Championship.

Nedeljkovic and the U.S. went 5-1-2 but did not medal, finishing fifth.

Aside from that, it’s been business as usual for Nedeljkovic, who’s getting back into the swing of things before the Penguins begin camp at their Cranberry complex in September.

“It’s been the same as it was last seasons and in prior seasons,” Nedeljkovic said. “It’s having a good summer in the gym. Been back on the ice now for a few weeks, so it’s just getting back into hockey shape and fine-tuning some things — fine-tuning the technical side of the game and hitting that reset button mentally, trying to come in with a fresh mind, clear mindset and positive frame of mind.”