Connor Hellebuyck Starts His Devils Debut at Dallas: 'He Is Going Tonight'

Devils: Connor Hellebuyck, confirmed. Hellebuyck makes his New Jersey Devils debut Tuesday against the Dallas Stars in Dallas (8 p.m. ET). Coach Sheldon Keefe was direct after the morning skate: "He is going tonight," NHL.com reports. Hellebuyck was the first goalie off the ice, the usual sign of the starter.

Stars: Casey DeSmith, confirmed. Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reported that DeSmith starts, and NHL.com's projected lineup agrees. Jake Oettinger started Sunday against the Islanders.

Why Keefe did not wait

On Monday, after his first practice with the Devils, Hellebuyck said he was ready to play right away, and Keefe would only say the team would take it a day at a time. On Tuesday, Keefe said the morning skate "was the last little checkpoint for him to make sure he's feeling good," and pointed to the calendar: "There's no practice time available ... So get him in, and you try to get him in a rhythm and get him going. To that end, no reason to wait."

This is Hellebuyck's first NHL game since April 13, 2026, Winnipeg's regular-season finale, and it comes four days after the trade. NHL.com lists the package New Jersey sent to the Jets: forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, forward Nick Bjugstad, the rights to unsigned draft pick Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

What he brings

• Wins: 345 career wins, third among active goalies behind Sergei Bobrovsky (459) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (375), per NHL.com.
• Workload: at least 50 starts in nine of the past 10 seasons. The exception was the shortened 2020-21 season, when he started 45 of Winnipeg's 56 games.
• Context: New Jersey is 7-4-0 and has won three straight. Dallas is 7-3-1 and has won five in a row, per NHL.com standings.

Jake Allen started Saturday's game against the Kings.

Wednesday at Colorado: unconfirmed

Tuesday starts a three-game trip and a back-to-back. The Devils play at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET) and at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. Keefe has not named a starter for either game. We list the Devils as unconfirmed on the Wednesday board until the team or a beat reporter says who plays.

Every Tuesday starter is on the Oct. 27 board, and more on New Jersey's crease is on the Devils tag page. Nothing here is betting advice.