Connor Hellebuyck Set for Devils Debut Against the Stars
Daily Faceoff reported: 'Connor Hellebuyck to make Devils debut against Stars'
wearing a New Jersey sweater is going to look like a Photoshop error for at least a month, but it becomes a reality this week.
Daily Faceoff confirmed the veteran goaltender will officially make his debut against the .
This is not exactly a soft landing spot for a debut. The Stars are currently rolling, having just hung six goals on the New York Islanders after grinding out tight wins against the Boston Bruins and .
For anyone staring at the game totals or moneyline, a Vezina-caliber goalie stepping into the crease completely scrambles the math. You are no longer betting on the standard New Jersey defense. You are betting on whether Hellebuyck is ready to steal a game on day one.
The have been holding their own lately, taking down the and Los Angeles Kings before dropping a 4-3 game to the Colorado Avalanche. Adding a healthy Hellebuyck to that mix is the kind of move that swings playoff races.
He had a chaotic final stretch with the Jets last season, dealing with a knee procedure in November and a facial injury in January that cost him serious time. Now he is fully cleared and looking to prove he is still an elite anchor in net.
We will find out exactly where his game is at when the puck drops in . If he looks like the vintage version of himself, the rest of the Eastern Conference is going to have a massive headache on their hands.