Jets lose Connor Hellebuyck 4-6 weeks for knee surgery

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck skates during a stoppage in play during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The Winnipeg Jets will be without their star goaltender for some time.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Connor Hellebuyck will be out for four to six weeks while he undergoes a minor arthroscopic knee procedure. He is expected to miss four to six weeks for recovery.

Head coach Scott Arniel said Hellebuyck has been dealing with the injury for some months.

“This has kind of been nagging on him here since training camp,” he said. “It’s something we’ve known about. He was trying to play through it – good days, bad days.”

He said in the past week, Hellebuyck’s knee has been bothering him more, causing him to miss some practices. Arniel said the team felt it was the right time to do the surgery, noting there are still lots of game ahead in the season.

“It wasn’t going to get any easier for him,” he said. “And I know he would love to keep playing. It wasn’t looking at what was coming down the road, whether it’s the Olympics or playoffs, it’s just getting him healthy for the second half (of the season), for the big run.”

Eric Comrie is expected to take over as starting goaltender during the time Hellebuyck is out. The Jets have also called up goaltender Thomas Milic from the Manitoba Moose.

Hellebuyck is the most recent winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL’s MVP and won his third Vezina Trophy for the league’s best goaltender this summer.

The Winnipeg Jets host the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night.

- With files from The Canadian Press