Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck returns to team after his disappearance

If the Jets want to make a deep run this season, they'll need their superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Unfortunately, he gave fans quite the scare recently.

A personal family matter kept Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Connor Hellebuyck off the ice on Monday, but all indications are he is back with his team. Head coach Scott Arniel told reporters that Hellebuyck might travel with the team on their departure for Edmonton. The Jets get ready to open the season against the Oilers on Wednesday.

On the ice for the Jets on Tuesday were Kaapo Kahkonen and Eric Comrie. Both joined the Jets in the off-season as free agents, adding depth to the team's goaltending ranks. With Hellebuyck recently absent, the two were likely to take on extra practice loads.

Hellebuyck started three preseason games for Winnipeg and was sharp in his last appearance, October 1 against the Calgary Flames, as he stopped 32 of 34 shots in a Jets' 3-2 win. As a veteran goalie, what was more expected from him in the preseason has only heightened anticipation into the regular season.

Looking back to last year, Hellebuyck sported a dominating 37-19-4 record with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage across 60 games. Things didn't go quite as well for the Jets in the playoffs, with Hellebuyck getting the nod for every contest during their first-round loss to Colorado. His playoff numbers were much more pedestrian: a 4.80 GAA and a .864 save percentage.

So far as the contract is concerned, Connor Hellebuyck is in year two of a seven-year, $59.5 million deal inked before the 2023-24 season. The Jets will be expecting great leadership and talent from him once again this coming season.

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