- Connor Hellebuyck says he is ready to make his Devils debut right now
- Sheldon Keefe wants him in the lineup on the three-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Dallas
- Read below for what Hellebuyck and Luke Hughes said after his first practice in New Jersey
Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t think he needs any more time before his Devils debut.
The 33-year-old goalie practiced with New Jersey for the first time Monday, three days after the Jets traded him. Hellebuyck was asked if he felt ready to play.
“If you’re asking me, I’m ready today,” Hellebuyck said. “But I don’t make every decision around here.”
He skated for weeks in Michigan after skipping Winnipeg’s training camp, and wore a temporary Devils sticker on his mask Monday. Check out the Devils’ own look at his first day in Newark:
Keefe said Hellebuyck looked sharp but still has medical and coaching checkpoints to clear. The Devils (7-4-0) open the road trip against the Stars on Tuesday, visit the Avalanche on Wednesday and finish in Vegas on Friday.
“I think the intent would be to get him involved in this trip,” Keefe said. “But we’ll have to take it a day at a time.”
Hellebuyck was asked about his puck handling and how the skaters will adjust to it. He said he likes to hold the puck behind the net and let his teammates get organized.
“I’m someone that will sit on that puck and wait for my play, so I like to think these guys’ jobs got a little easier,” Hellebuyck said.
Luke Hughes has a good read on what the Devils are getting. He trains with Hellebuyck every summer, along with brothers Jack and Quinn, and said scoring on him is rare. “We always joke around, ‘How many goals did you get on Helle today?’ Usually, it’s not many,” Hughes said.
Jake Allen has handled the net while Hellebuyck got his legs back, including in Saturday’s win over the Kings. Hellebuyck owns three Vezina Trophies and the 2024-25 Hart, and the full trade return sent Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Alexander Command’s rights and two picks to Winnipeg.
Brett Pesce and company get a goalie with 345 career wins and 45 shutouts. Tuesday in Dallas is the first real chance for Hellebuyck to put on the sweater.
