Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck missed practice on Monday after dealing with a personal family matter but is expected to rejoin the team in the coming days, head coach Scott Arniel told reporters.
According to Arniel, he may not practise on Tuesday either but is expected to be with the team on the flight to Edmonton for the season-opening game against the Oilers on Wednesday.
On the ice for the Jets on Tuesday were Kaapo Kähkönen and Eric Comrie, both of which signed free-agent deals with Winnipeg in the off-season.
Hellebuyck suited up for three pre-season games for Winnipeg, including the finale against the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-old stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in that game, helping the Jets to a 3-2 win.
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner had a 37-19-4 record last season with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage in 60 games.
He started every game in the Jets’ first-round playoff series loss against the Colorado Avalanche in the spring, finishing with a 1-4-0 record with a 4.80 GAA and .864 save percentage.
The Commerce, Mich., native signed a seven-year, $59.5 million ($8.5 AAV) ahead of the 2023-24 season. He’s entering the second year of the deal.