Brian Dumoulin has flown under the radar since being acquired by the New Jersey Devils on March 6, 2025. At least, that is what goaltender Jacob Markstrom believes.
"He has been unbelievable," he said.
At 33 years old, Dumoulin has appeared in 81 playoff games and won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. It was there that Dumoulin met Devils' general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
"We have had our eye on Brian," Fitzgerald said. "I have a history with him. He has got a Stanley Cup pedigree. Versatile. He is a defender. Can play on the PK. […] Moves pucks well. I had my coaching staff watch film on a couple different defensemen at the time and everybody came away (saying) 'this guy could help us.' That was part of my priority was trying to grab him from Anaheim and come into this group."
In New Jersey, Dumoulin has appeared in 13 games, collected five assists, and averaged 18 minutes of ice time per game.
With injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler, adding the Maine native solidified the pairing with Johnathan Kovacevic, allowing Brett Pesce to move back to the right side.
"I don't want to think of a world in which he wasn't here," head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Dumoulin.
"I was super impressed with his game, just watching him play," Markstom said. "As a goalie, it is awesome to have a guy you have played against for a long time come in and be a teammate. You appreciate his game so much more."
Dumoulin is not expected to put up a lot of numbers. As long as he can be a calm presence on the blue line, keep opponents away from New Jersey's net, and make a clean first pass, he is doing precisely what the Devils acquired him to do.
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