Martin Brodeur played a vital role in persuading Devils to trade for Connor Hellebuyck - "I really had to push hard"

Ahead of Connor Hellebuyck's much anticipated New Jersey Devils debut last night, Devils legend Martin Brodeur revealed how the deal may not have come together without the Hall of Fame goaltender’s persuasion inside the organization.

Brodeur, the Devils’ executive vice president of hockey operations, admitted that he made the case to first-year general manager Sunny Mehta that a core built around Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt could not keep cycling through unproven goaltending, as had been the case with Jacob Markstrom.

"... I really had to push hard. Leo Luongo (Devils director of goaltending) really helped me out with that one too. We tried with Jacob Markstrom, obviously it didn't work, we had to move him to Florida. But this opportunity happens and ... it was time for us to make a move like that and Sunny pulled it off and it's awesome," said Brodeur on NHL Network.

The blockbuster acquisition of a three-time Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy winner like Connor Hellebuyck was a reversal of the New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s public stance on trading for elite goaltenders.

“Because there is randomness at the position, I’m reluctant to invest significant assets there instead of in areas where the results may be more predictable. Money spent in goal cannot be spent somewhere else," Mehta had said earlier via NHL.com.

But, Mehta ended up trusting the word of Brodeur, who retired in 2014 as the NHL’s all-time leader in wins (691), shutouts (125) and games played by a goaltender (1,266). He won three Stanley Cups with New Jersey (1995, 2000, 2003), four Vezina Trophies (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), five William M. Jennings Trophies, the 1994 Calder Trophy and two Olympic gold medals with Canada (2002, 2010). He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 and his No. 30 hangs in the Prudential Center rafters.

Connor Hellebuyck speaks out after making New Jersey Devils debut in win over Dallas Stars

On Tuesday night, Connor Hellebuyck made his debut for the New Jersey Devils, his first NHL game since April 13. He stopped 17 out of 18 shots, and ended the night with a .944 SV% vs. the Dallas Stars.

“I thought the guys in front of me played a perfect game for me to get acclimated. Low amount of shots, blocking everything, keeping everything to the outside. They let me touch the puck a lot," said Connor Hellebuyck post game.

Nico Hischier scored twice and Jesper Boqvist, Luke Hughes and Jack Hughes also scored as New Jersey won a fourth straight game and ended Dallas’s five-game winning streak.

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama