ex-Jets' Connor Hellebuyck Is Winning in New Jersey. Is He

Connor Hellebuyck couldn't have asked for a much better start with his new team. The former Winnipeg Jets goaltender has won all three starts with the New Jersey Devils, including Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Hellebuyck stopped 18 of 21 shots against Edmonton before helping New Jersey finish the job in the shootout. He's now allowed just six goals on 60 shots in his first three appearances.

For Devils fans, that's an encouraging start. But there's something else about this move that could make it interesting as the season goes along. Hellebuyck may be getting a different kind of support in New Jersey than he had in Winnipeg.

New Jersey Is a Different Kind of Job for Hellebuyck

Jets fans know what Hellebuyck can do. For years, he was the guy Winnipeg could turn to when things weren't going particularly well in front of him. There were plenty of nights when the Jets needed their goaltender to bail them out. That's one reason his departure was such a big deal.

New Jersey, however, brings a different opportunity. The Devils already have some talented players who can control the puck, create offence and keep opponents from getting too many chances. One problem has been getting consistent goaltending. Adding a proven winner like Hellebuyck gives them something they were missing.

And there's a difference between asking a goaltender to rescue a team every night and giving him a chance to be part of a team that can control a game in front of him. Hellebuyck is still going to have to make the big saves. That's what good goaltenders do. But if New Jersey can limit the chances coming his way, he might not have to be spectacular every time he steps onto the ice.

The Devils Didn't Make This Move for the Future.

There's also a pretty clear message in what New Jersey gave up to get him. Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command and two draft picks went to Winnipeg. That's a substantial investment.

The Devils aren't simply hoping Hellebuyck will help them down the road. They want to compete now, and they believe adding an established goaltender can make a difference. Three wins are a nice beginning, although there's a long way to go before anyone knows how this trade will ultimately work out.

For Hellebuyck, the adjustment is just beginning. For New Jersey, the early results suggest the team may have found an important piece of its puzzle. And for Winnipeg fans, watching their former goaltender win games somewhere else may take a little getting used to.