The New Jersey Devils visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at a pivotal time for their franchise.
On Friday, the Devils acquired star goaltender and Team USA Olympic champion Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets. They sent forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, the rights to unsigned draft pick Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick and a 2029 second-rounder to Winnipeg in the blockbuster.
Hellebuyck, a three-time recipient of the Vezina Trophy for the league’s top goaltender, requested a trade out of Winnipeg and has yet to appear in a game this season. He’s two years removed from a 47-win campaign with a sterling 2.00 goals-against average and eight shutouts.
He practiced with the Devils for the first time Monday, three days after the trade, and could make his debut during their three-game road trip. Coach Sheldon Keefe said the team intends to get him into a game but will determine the timing after further evaluation.
“You could just feel the buzz,” veteran goaltender Jake Allen said of the trade. “When you get an NHL MVP traded to your team, it doesn’t happen very often. We’re very fortunate.”
After beating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 at home on Saturday, the Devils bring a three-game winning streak to Texas to put up against the Stars’ five-game run.
The Stars pushed past the New York Islanders 6-3 on Sunday night, led by two goals from Jason Robertson and two-point nights from Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Tyler Seguin, with Jake Oettinger posting 17 saves.
It was an offensive breakout of sorts, marking their first six-goal output of the season after consecutive three-goal performances that needed overtime to secure victory.
“I mentioned the other day that we were one pass away,” Robertson said when asked about the slow scoring after the game. “(Sunday), we were on the tape, crispy, and goals went in. It’s a shot of confidence for everyone in the locker room, and we look to keep building on it and keep executing.”
Led by head coach Glen Gulutzan, the Stars sit third in the Central Division amid their recent success. Mikko Rantanen leads the team with six goals and 14 points, bringing him within four points of the 800-point mark for his career.
Jack Hughes leads New Jersey with 12 points on three goals and nine assists, while Arseny Gritsyuk has a team-high six goals and nine points. Gritsyuk has scored in five consecutive games.
New Jersey, under head coach Sheldon Keefe, sits third in the Metropolitan Division, but has played fewer games than the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes and the local rival New York Rangers.
“It’s been a really good week,” Keefe said of the three wins at home ahead of the three-game road swing. “Guys have really bought in and really pulled together and just played solid hockey. We’ve won in different ways, but the recipe and foundation have been the same. Let’s bottle this up and take it on the road.”