Winnipeg Jets 'shut down' Connor Hellebuyck: Will undergo surgery

The Winnipeg Jets are in a period of great regular season success, with the organization finishing atop not only the Central Division a year ago, but the Western Conference as a whole.

There are many factors that go into that success, but the biggest of all has to be Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has established himself as one of the best net minders in the entire NHL.

Unfortunately, the Jets will now be without their star goaltender for an extended time, after it was announced that he will undergo a minor arthroscopic knee procedure, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The reported recovery time for this is 4-6 weeks, so we will see Hellebuyck on the ice again before the 2026 Olympic Games, but given how competitive the Central Division is this season, the 4-6 weeks without their star goaltender may be all it takes for the Jets to fall in the standings.

This season, Hellebuyck has posted a 2.51 GAA and a .913 save percentage, and has once again been one of the most dominant goalies in the NHL, but with the Jets sitting at 12-7-0 on the year, they desperately need him healthy in order to compete.

Ultimately though, this is a team that has thrived on proving people wrong in the regular season, and with a talented squad, if they can stay alive and over .500 in the next 4-6 weeks, they'll be a team that has confidence in a deep Stanley Cup Playoffs run this season.