WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will endure an arthroscopic process on his knee and be out 4 to 6 weeks, the staff mentioned Friday.

Jets coach Scott Arneil mentioned Friday that Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner because the NHL’s prime goalie, had been making an attempt to play via a knee damage, and the timing is true to get it taken care of.

“Clearly, he’s, what’s it, 10 years, he’s been fairly wholesome,” Arniel mentioned. “And this has form of been nagging on him right here since coaching camp. It’s one thing we’ve form of recognized about, he was making an attempt to play via it, can be good days, unhealthy days, simply one thing that, timing’s proper, get it achieved now.

“Quite a lot of schedule forward of us, in order that was actually simply the considering. Sat down, talked to him, clearly the medical workers, all people, agent. This was the time to do it.”

The surgical procedure comes lower than three months earlier than the beginning of the Olympic males’s hockey event in Milan, Italy.

Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a 2.51 goals-against common and .913 save proportion this season for the Jets (12-7-0), who entered a recreation Friday towards Carolina in third place within the Central Division.

The 32-year-old Hellebuyck gained his first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and his second straight — and third profession —Vezina Trophy in 2024-25, serving to the Jets to the perfect regular-season file within the NHL. He additionally gained the award as prime goalie in 2019-20.

Hellebuyck, from Commerce, Michigan, was not included within the first group of six gamers introduced for america’ Olympic preliminary roster, however was extensively anticipated to be added to the staff.

Eric Comrie is anticipated to take the Jets beginning position in Hellebuyck’s absence. He’s 4-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .908 save proportion this season.

In a corresponding transfer, the Jets referred to as up goaltender Thomas Milic from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose.

“Clearly we’ve been actually lucky to have Helly be wholesome and obtainable,” Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey mentioned. “His sturdiness is one thing to marvel at. Clearly now with out him, you possibly can’t change a man like that.

“However we’re tremendous assured in Coms and Milly and our defensive recreation. However positively, we’ve been lucky to not have him out of the lineup for an entire lot of years.”

Hellebuyck, who final performed on Nov. 15 in a victory over Calgary, was 47-12-3 final season. He has a profession file of 330-191-44 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 save proportion and 45 shutouts.

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