Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery on Saturday and miss four to six weeks. The reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has been dealing with a nagging knee issue since training camp. Eric Comrie will take over as the starter while Thomas Milic is recalled from the AHL.
The Winnipeg Jets received tough news on Friday when head coach Scott Arniel confirmed that star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is sidelined for four to six weeks due to a knee injury requiring arthroscopic surgery. The procedure is scheduled for Saturday, and the timeline means Hellebuyck, 32, will miss a significant portion of the early season schedule.
Hellebuyck has been playing through the injury, which has nagged him since training camp, leading to good and bad days. 'He's been pretty healthy. This has been kind of nagging on him since training camp. It's something he's kind of known about. He was trying to play through it,' Arniel said. The decision to address it now was made after discussions with Hellebuyck, the medical staff, and his agent, prioritizing his health for the second half of the season and potential playoff run.
This season, Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 14 games, his last appearance a 4-3 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on Nov. 15. Last year, he won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and Vezina Trophy as top goaltender, posting 47 wins, a league-leading 2.00 GAA, and eight shutouts while helping the Jets secure the Presidents' Trophy.
The Jets, sitting third in the Central Division at 12-7-0, will turn to Eric Comrie as their starter. Comrie is 4-1-0 with a 2.60 GAA and .908 save percentage in five games this season. 'He's an absolute workhorse, so you know his game is sharp,' captain Adam Lowry said of Comrie, noting their close relationship with Hellebuyck. Thomas Milic was recalled from the Manitoba Moose, where he has a 5-2-2 record, 2.14 GAA, and .921 save percentage in nine AHL games.
Team members expressed disappointment but confidence in the depth. 'To put it plainly, it stinks. You lose the Hart Trophy winner, the Vezina winner, the best goalie in the world for an extended period of time,' Lowry said. Defenseman Josh Morrissey added, 'You can't replace a guy like that,' while emphasizing the need to strengthen their defensive game. Hellebuyck is expected to return in time for the 2026 Olympics, where he is a leading candidate for Team USA.