The reigning MVP is being shut down.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss four to six weeks, head coach Scott Arniel confirmed to reporters on Friday.
The surgery is scheduled for Saturday.
It is unclear when Hellebuyck, 32, was injured, though the issue might have been nagging.
"It was just something that the timing is right. Get it done now," Arniel said, according to The Athletic. "We have a lot of schedule ahead of us. We sat down and talked to him, the medical staff, everybody, the agent. This was just the time to do it."
The American, who won the Hart and Vezina Trophies last season while leading the Jets to the Presidents' Trophy, was off to a solid start this season, sporting an 8-6-0 record with a .913 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average.
Hellebuyck is also a leading candidate to start in net for Team USA at the Olympics after he led his country to the 4 Nations Face-Off final in February.
The Milan-Cortina tournament is set to begin Feb. 11.
The Jets team recalled fellow goalie Thomas Milic from the Manitoba Moose. Eric Comrie, who is 4-1-0 with a .908 save percentage and 2.60 GAA, will take over as starter.
Their next game is Friday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, with Nikolaj Ehlers set to make his return to Winnipeg.
The Jets sit third in the Central Division at 12-7-0 for 24 points entering Friday's action.
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