Ice Chips: Jets swap backup goalies as Hellebuyck takes first skate of rehab

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Winnipeg Jets

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck skated for the first time since his injury prior to the Jets’ practice on Monday.

Hellebuyck has been sidelined since Nov. 15 after undergoing a knee procedure that gave him a 4-to-6 week timeframe for his return.

Head coach Scott Arniel added that Hellebuyck’s rehab process is continuing but isn’t ready to practice with the team.

The 6-foot-4 netminder has an 8-6-0 record this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

The Jets recalled goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and assigned goaltender Thomas Milic back to Manitoba on Monday.

The moves comes after the Jets have gone 3-6-1 since starting netminder Hellebuyck went down with an injury.

Milic, 22, was drafted 151st overall in 2023 and appeared in three games with the Jets this season, going 0-1-0 with an .871 save percentage and 3.46 goals against average.

He has a 5-2-3 record in the AHL this season with a 2.14 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

DiVincentiis, 21, was drafted 207th overall by the Jets in 2022 and has a 6-7-0 record in the AHL this season with a 2.49 GAA and.915 save percentage.

Eric Comrie has taken the lion’s share of the time in net for the Jets and has a 6-6-1 record this season with an .898 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA. However, he has gone 3-5-1 since Hellebuyck’s injury, allowing 25 goals in nine games.

The Jets used these lines during Monday’s practice:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forward Scott Laughton was not on the ice during the Maple Leafs’ morning skate prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun:

Laughton, 31, skated 14:44 during the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, recording a goal on one shot.

The 6-foot-1 centre has missed 18 games this season due to different injuries.

Laughton has three goals in 10 games this season.

Head coach Craig Berube told reporters that Laughton is available to play against the Lightning. He also added that Calle Jarnkrok will enter the lineup for winger Nick Robertson while Dakota Mermis will replace Philippe Myers on the defence corps.

The Maple Leafs used these lines according to Koshan:

Calgary Flames

Dustin Wolf was the first goalie off the ice during the morning skate on Monday, indicating that he should be in net against the Buffalo Sabres, according to Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic.

Wolf, 24, has an 8-12-2 record this season with an .899 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average.

The Flames recalled defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers on Monday.

Brzustewicz, 21, was originally drafted 75th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023 but traded to the Flames as part of a package that saw forward Elias Lindholm go the other way.

The 6-foot right-shot defenceman appeared in one game with the Flames last season and has four goals and 12 points in 23 games in the AHL this season.

Boston Bruins

Forward David Pastrnak and defenceman Charlie McAvoy will travel with the team on their three-game western road trip and are hoping to get into action in one of those games, according to Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe.

Pastrnak, 29, has missed the team’s last five games while dealing with an undisclosed injury.

The 6-foot winger has a 11 goals and 29 points in 25 games this season.

McAvoy, 27, has been out for the team’s last 10 games after sustaining a facial injury that required surgery on Nov. 19.

The 6-foot-1 right-shot defenceman was skating in a red non-contact sweater for the skate.

McAvoy has 14 assists in 19 games this season with a minus-2 rating while averaging 23:46 of ice time.

Dallas Stars

Defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin will not travel with the Stars during the team’s upcoming two-game road trip and is expected to be sidelined for 5-to-7 days with a lower-body injury, according to head coach Glen Gulutzan.

Additionally, blueliner Thomas Harley will travel with the team on the road trip, but mostly for practice purposes and to be around the team.

Harley, 24, has been out since Nov. 13 with a lower-body injury. He has a goal and 10 points in 18 games this season while averaging 22:59 of ice time.

Philadelphia Flyers

Defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen was a full participant in Flyers practice after being cleared for contact, according to Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Ristolainen, 31, has yet to appear this season after suffering a ruptured right tricep tendon at the end of last season.

The 6-foot-4 right shot defenceman had four goals and 19 points in 63 games last season with a plus-3 rating while averaging 20:31 of ice time.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point took part in the team’s morning skate on Monday and are expected to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to play-by-play voice Dave Mishkin.

Kucherov, 32, missed Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the New York Islanders with an undisclosed injury.

The 6-foot winger has 12 goals and 34 points in 25 games this season.

Point, 29, missed the team’s last seven games while dealing with an undisclosed injury.

The 5-foot-11 centre has three goals and 11 points in 21 games this season.

Additionally, Jonas Johansson will start in net against the Maple Leafs.

Johansson has a 5-4-0 record this season with an .896 save percentage and 2.85 goals-against average.

The Lightning used these lines during their morning skate on Monday:

Utah Mammoth

Defenceman Olli Maatta was a full participant in the Mammoth’s pre-game skate prior to their game against the Los Angeles Kings, according to Cole Bagley of KSL Sports.

Maatta, 31, has been out since Nov. 18 while dealing with an upper-body injury.

The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenceman has an assist in 16 games with a minus-1 rating while averaging 11:48 of ice time.

Karel Vejmelka was the first goalie off the ice during the Mammoth’s morning skate, indicating he should be starting in net against the Kings, according to Bagley.

Vejmelka, 29, has a 12-7-2 record this season with an .896 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average.