Hellebuyck to make first start for Devils against Stars

Connor Hellebuyck will make his New Jersey Devils and 2026-27 season debut on Tuesday, just four days after his blockbuster trade from the Winnipeg Jets. 

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the best goalie in the NHL and the Hart Trophy winner as most valuable player in the NHL in the 2024-25 season, was the first goalie off the ice on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena, where the Devils will play the Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; Prime Video, MSGSN).

Hellebuyck has not played in an NHL game since April 13, 2026, the regular-season finale for the Jets, who did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After the season ended, the 33-year-old expressed frustration with the Jets season, and on Aug. 27, made it public that he had requested a trade from the Jets, despite having five years ($8.5 million average annual value) remaining the contract he signed with Winnipeg on Oct. 9, 2023.

When he did not report for training camp last month, the Jets suspended him. That suspension was set to end on Friday, but he was traded to New Jersey for forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad, the rights to unsigned draft choice forward Alexander Command, New Jersey's own second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and New Jersey’s own seventh-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.

While suspended, he spent several weeks skating in Michigan. He practiced with the Devils for the first time on Monday. 

"It was fun," Hellebuyck said. "I've been really looking forward to this day for a while now, and it felt good getting acclimated with a new group and having some fun out there."

New Jersey (7-4-0) begins a three-game road trip on Tuesday, the first of a back-to-back set. They play at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

Hellebuyck and Stars goalie Jake Oettinger were teammates on the gold-medal winning Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.