Connor Hellebuyck makes his New Jersey Devils debut as starter in net at Dallas

DALLAS (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made his debut for the New Jersey Devils when the veteran goaltender started against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

The start came four days after the 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winner was traded to New Jersey after his suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for failing to report to training camp. His last NHL action prior to Tuesday came on April 13, a 6-2 loss at Vegas.

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, including a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season in 2024-25, and helped the United States win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics this year.

A fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by Winnipeg, Hellebuyck is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with at least 345 career wins. Among U.S.-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage going into Tuesday ranked fourth and 2.58 goals-against average ranked sixth.

“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again,” Hellebuyck said Saturday, when he spoke to reporters a day after the trade. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”

Hellebuyck was skating in Michigan before the trade was completed and went through one practice and Tuesday’s optional morning skate. He has five seasons left on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.

He started Tuesday opposite No. 2 Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith. The Stars’ No. 1 goalie, Jake Oettinger, was Team USA’s third-string goalie at the Olympics behind Hellebuyck and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and didn’t see any game action.

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