Hellebuyck to undergo minor knee procedure, out 4-6 weeks
Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will undergo a minor arthroscopic knee procedure, head coach Scott Arniel confirmed Friday, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates.
Hellebuyck is expected to miss four-to-six weeks, added Arniel.
"It was just something that the timing is right," Arniel said, according to Ates. "Get it done now. We have a lot of schedule ahead of us. We sat down and talked to him, the medical staff, everybody, the agent. This was just the time to do it."
Hellebuyck owns a .913 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 14 games this season. He's claimed back-to-back Vezina Trophies and is the reigning Hart Trophy winner.
The 32-year-old has been the NHL's workhorse netminder since becoming a full-time starter. Hellebuyck has led all goalies in games played five times in 11 seasons and has appeared in over 60 contests in each of the past four campaigns.
"To put it plainly, it sucks," Jets captain Adam Lowry said, according to Ates.
Backup Eric Comrie has gone 4-1 in five starts this season with a .908 SV%. He made a career-high 20 appearances last year.
"We have all the confidence in the world in what Eric can do," added Lowry, according to Ates. "(Comrie) has come in and he's had a stellar start to the year. He had a great year for us last year. ... He's going to come in and give us a chance to win every night."
The Jets recalled goaltender Thomas Milic from the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Milic, who backstopped Canada to gold at the world juniors in 2023, sports a .921 SV% through nine minor-league appearances this season.
Winnipeg is third in the Central Division with a 12-7-0 record.