NHL Odds: G Connor Hellebuyck still not skating as Winnipeg Jets slide further down standings

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t resumed skating, but he could be close to a return to the ice, head coach Scott Arniel said on Wednesday.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 22 for an injury that had been bothering him since training camp and Arniel said his timeline hasn’t changed since he was ruled out for four-to-six weeks on Nov. 21.

“I’m going to make sure he has four yellow (non-contact) jerseys on,” Arniel said of protecting the reigning Hart and Vezina winner.

Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this season.

The 32-year-old is coming off a dominant 2024-25 campaign that saw him win a second straight Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender while also being the first goaltender to win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP since Carey Price in 2015.

Hellebuyck’s timeline puts him in place to return before the United States announces their Olympic roster. Heading into the season he was expected to be the Americans’ starter after backstopping the team at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Winnipeg Jets

Hellebuyck’s return can’t come soon enough for the Winnipeg Jets, who have lost four of seven games played without him, giving up three or more goals in five of those games.

The Jets are currently relying on the duo of regular backup Eric Comrie and rookie AHL call-up Thomas Milic. Comrie is 5-5-0 with a 3.13 GAA and .893 SV this season, while Milic allowed four goals on 34 shots in his only start, a losing effort against Carolina.

It’s been a hugely disappointing start to the season for Winnipeg, the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners. Currently sitting two points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, the Jets are -120 to make the playoffs and +100 to miss.

Winnipeg’s season point total is even more drastic as oddsmakers have the Over/Under set at 90.5. For context, the Jets led the NHL with 116 points last year, which equals roughly 13 more wins than oddsmakers have them pegged to earn this season.

The Jets are back in action on Wednesday in Montreal. You can see our full game preview and score prediction here.