Devils Connor Hellebuyck Is Winning. But Something Else Is Changing

There’s nothing wrong with starting your career with a new team by winning your first four games. Connor Hellebuyck has done exactly that with the New Jersey Devils, and the early returns have been encouraging.

One victory came Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers, a 4-3 shootout win. Hellebuyck stopped 18 of 21 shots and then helped finish the job in the shootout. That’s three wins in three starts since arriving from Winnipeg. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to a new dressing room.

But I think there’s something more interesting happening here than a star goaltender simply finding his feet with another team.

The Devils Might Be Making His Job Easier

Hellebuyck has allowed six goals on 60 shots in his first three appearances. That’s a .900 save percentage, which is respectable, although nobody should confuse three games with a full season.

What catches my attention is the workload. He’s faced just 20 shots per game on average. That’s worth considering when you remember what New Jersey was trying to accomplish with this trade. The Devils weren’t simply looking for a famous name to put between the pipes. They wanted to address a weakness that had been holding back an otherwise talented team.

New Jersey was already doing some things well. The team had strong possession numbers and was limiting opponents’ shots. Its problem was getting enough saves from its goaltenders.

Now it has one of the best goalies in the business. That’s an interesting combination.

Hellebuyck Doesn’t Have to Be a Superstar Every Night

One thing that makes a goaltender valuable is the ability to rescue a team when things go wrong. Hellebuyck has built his reputation doing exactly that. But wouldn’t it be something if New Jersey didn’t need him to be a superhero every night?

The Devils have players who can score, move the puck and control stretches of a game. If they can keep opponents from generating too many quality chances, Hellebuyck can concentrate on doing what he does best.

That doesn’t mean being in the crease will always be easy. Tuesday’s game against Edmonton reminded everyone that even a good team can give up goals and find itself needing a late save.

Still, the early partnership between Hellebuyck and his team looks promising.

The Bigger Test Is Still Ahead

The Devils paid a high price to get Hellebuyck. Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command and two draft picks went to Winnipeg. That’s an investment, and it tells us something about where New Jersey believes it stands. This wasn’t a move for some distant future. The Devils want to compete now.

Three wins are a nice start, but the real question is whether Hellebuyck can make this team more consistent over the long season. Devils fans have reason to be encouraged. They haven’t just added an accomplished goaltender. They may have found the missing piece that allows the rest of the team to play with a little more confidence.

And if Hellebuyck doesn’t have to save the day every night, that might be the best news of all.

Related: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Bruins, Red Wings, Lightning & Oilers