The New Jersey Devils are making the right call by not starting Connor Hellebuyck against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.
That may not be the first reaction for everyone. At first glance, it feels like the kind of move that invites criticism. But after a little more thought, the decision makes sense for the Devils, especially with the game coming at the end of a three-game road trip against a non-conference opponent.
Winnipeg also is not being treated here as the NHL’s top team by any measure, which matters in how New Jersey is approaching this one. From the Devils’ perspective, this is a spot where they can choose their battles.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe saying the team would rather have Hellebuyck against the Washington Capitals is part of that same logic. If the Devils make the playoffs, Washington is the more likely opponent.
With the Carolina Hurricanes sitting in the top spot in the Metro Division as the defending champions, the other playoff spots are there for the taking. The Rangers are expected to slip without Igor Shesterkin, while the Blue Jackets, Flyers, and Penguins continue to struggle.
The Islanders remain a wild card.
So if New Jersey wants to use its best goalie in a division matchup after a road trip, that is a defensible choice.
A lot has been made of other players who have gone back to former markets and played through it, but the comparison only goes so far. Every example people keep bringing up has one thing in common: none of those players are goalies.
That matters. Goalies live in a different world.
They don’t get the luxury of easing into a game or stepping off after a shift. They carry the full 60 minutes, and even elite ones can have one rough night.
Hellebuyck just backstopped Team USA to a Gold Medal, so nobody is questioning his toughness or mindset. But in a loud building, there is always the possibility that Jake Allen might be needed anyway if Hellebuyck gives up a few early goals.
The Devils also have not played well in Winnipeg, which only strengthens the argument for treating this as a game they can live without. There is nothing wrong with New Jersey deciding not to risk shaking Hellebuyck’s confidence in his new environment.
There has also been some chatter about what the players in the room think about Hellebuyck sitting out. That is not really for the public to sort through.
Hellebuyck has not said anything, and the team has been supportive since he arrived. If that support disappears because he does not start against the Jets, then the bigger issue is the room itself.
The Devils are trying to get to the playoffs for the third time in the last decade. If the core turns on its goalie over one game in Winnipeg, that would raise far more serious questions than the lineup decision itself.
There has also been criticism aimed at Sunny Mehta, with some saying the move takes away from Jets fans getting their chance to react.
But Sunny Mehta and the New Jersey Devils do not owe anyone anything.
Mehta is the Devils’ general manager, not the caretaker of what Jets fans, Canadian media, or anyone else wants to see. His responsibility is to his own team.
He has repeatedly said winning comes first, and at 13-5-0, he has backed that up. If he believes starting Hellebuyck against Washington gives New Jersey a better chance to win, that is the move he will make.
Hellebuyck is expected to speak before the game, and it is believed he will address why he requested his trade out of Winnipeg. Jets fans will still have their chance to make themselves heard. He will be in the building, and he will hear them.
If there is one thing Mehta should be questioned about, it is how the Devils handled the announcement. The statement did not need to come immediately after New Jersey shut out the Maple Leafs on Sunday night. It could have waited, or it could have been made after morning practice.
That part of the situation has opened the door for jokes and memes, and that is not going away anytime soon. But now the Devils have to live with it and back up their goalie Tuesday night with Jake Allen.
At the same time, the larger message is clear: Mehta is serious about winning. If the Devils can block out the noise and take care of business, there is no telling how far this team can go.
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Devils Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In Frustrating Loss
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Kyle Connor matched Mercer with two goals of his own for the Jets, and Winnipegs ability to answer kept New Jersey from ever fully pulling away. The loss drops the Devils to 13-6-0, a reminder that even in a strong start to the season, missed chances can turn a winnable night into a frustrating one. [Read more 🡒]