Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel with the latest on Connor Hellebuyck & Haydn Fleury

It’s been about two weeks since we learned the Jets were shutting down MVP Connor Hellebuyck in order to to have a minor Arthroscopic knee procedure. At the time it was expected he would miss 4-6 weeks with the injury.

Just two days ago in Montreal head coach Scott Arniel provided an update saying Hellebuyck was close to getting back on the ice “pretty soon”.

Which brings us to today in Winnipeg as the Jets get set to face the Sabres tonight. Following morning skate Arniel was asked about how the rehab process for Hellebuyck is going:

“He’s in the movements. He’s got movement going. He hasn’t touched the ice yet, it’s getting close though. Sort of his up and down stuff is starting to happen so it’s progressing as we had hoped.”

So not yet on the ice but it sounds like the progression has been positive for the key piece of this Jets lineup.

It’s been just over three weeks since Haydn Fleury has played a game for the Jets. He was injured in the game in Vancouver against the Canucks when he took a Kiefer Sherwood shot to the head. Unsurprisingly we were later told he was in concussion protocol.

Fleury would skate with the team but then missed a number of the on ice sessions. Last week he didn’t join the Jets for their recent five-game road trip as the head coach indicated he hadn’t yet passed the concussion protocol.

This was Arniel’s update today following morning skate on Fleury:

“He skated this morning 8 o’clock, so he’s cleared. Now it’s conditioning, because obviously he wasn’t even skating for a stretch there so today was his first real go. Won’t make the road trip tomorrow.”

So it would appear that prospect Elias Salomonsson will remain up with the big club while Fleury continue to work his way back from injury.