What Happened
Connor Hellebuyck made his first start for the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, backstopping a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars. He stopped 11 of 12 slot shots in a game that coach Sheldon Keefe described as stress-free for his new goaltender. The trade that brought Hellebuyck to New Jersey also sent Nico Daws to Winnipeg. According to ESPN, the Devils' Stanley Cup odds shortened from 25-1 to 14-1 once the deal was reported.
Key Details
- Hellebuyck stopped 11 of 12 slot shots in his Devils debut.
- Keefe said Hellebuyck looks in mid-season form and has earned his confidence.
- ESPN reported Devils Cup odds moved from 25-1 to 14-1 after the trade.
- Hellebuyck is the 21st different Devils starter since 2014-15, sixth-most in the NHL.
- Jake Allen and Nico Daws had a combined .779 slot save percentage on trade day.
- Hellebuyck posted 38 quality starts in 57 tries (66.7 per cent) for Winnipeg last season.
What It Means
New Jersey has cycled through goaltenders for more than a decade since Martin Brodeur, and the crease had been a weak point again this season before the trade. Hellebuyck gives the Devils a proven starter behind a defence that suppresses shots, which is why the club's championship odds moved quickly. His consistency in Winnipeg, including a 66.7 per cent quality-start rate last season, contrasts with the instability New Jersey had been living with.
What's Next
Hellebuyck is expected to continue as New Jersey's No. 1 goaltender as the Devils build on the win over Dallas. The club's revised Stanley Cup odds will be tested over a full season, with the goaltender's workload and the team's defensive structure under watch.