What happened: After the New Jersey Devils acquired Connor Hellebuyck on Oct. 23, the goaltender stepped into an immediate schedule adjustment that included attending a team Halloween party on two hours' notice, per Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Four days after the transaction, he took the crease for his first start with New Jersey against the Dallas Stars.

Why it matters: Moving a starting goaltender in October leaves minimal practice time to learn defensive tendencies and communication cues before live action. Getting Connor Hellebuyck into his Devils debut against the Stars immediately integrated New Jersey's acquisition into the 2026-27 regular-season rotation.

What to watch: New Jersey continues its 2026-27 regular-season schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with puck drop scheduled for 9:00 PM ET.