‘Excited to get back out there’

Adam Lowry is no stranger to pain. The hard-nosed, high-character captain of the Winnipeg Jets is as tough as they come, leading by example on and off the ice.

But this past spring, the veteran centre reached a point where he could no longer simply grin and bear it. The difficult decision was made to undergo surgery to repair a hip that had been screaming at him for several years.

“It started becoming a chronic thing, where it was even becoming painful just going down stairs. I’d feel it watching TV,” Lowry said Thursday as he met with media for the first time since his surgery in late May.

“I was willing to continue managing it and try to play through it. But then you worry that you might get into October, November and all of a sudden you have to operate now. Instead of missing 10 to 15 games, you’re missing 60 to 70 and potentially the playoffs. That was the thing we were ultimately trying to avoid.”

Lowry explained that regular injections he’d relied on to get him game-ready stopped bringing relief, and imaging showed his condition was worsening. A trip to New York to meet with a specialist after the Jets were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs sealed the deal.

The surgery means some additional short-term pain, as Lowry won’t be ready for the start of the 2025-26 NHL season next month. But the hope is long-term gain in the form of an extended career — one the Calgary product hopes will eventually include a Stanley Cup celebration down Portage and Main.

“Super happy with how it’s feeling and where it’s at,” Lowry said after his latest conditioning skate at Hockey For All Centre.

“Obviously a ways to go. My job is to push myself every day, try to do the right things to make sure that when I get back I’m ready to go and feeling good. It’s nice to be back on the ice. It feels like another milestone, another step closer to my return.”

When, exactly, might that be?

“I think end of October, start of November, something like that,” said Lowry.

“With these things, it’s tough. I feel really good, I feel like I could maybe go sooner, but at the end of the day it’s all about avoiding setbacks and making sure that when I do come back, it’s for good. It’s not one of those things that you constantly have to manage. Making sure I’m strong, making sure I’m in good shape.”

Lowry, 32, is coming off a year in which he scored a career-high 16 goals while serving as the shutdown centre on the NHL’s top regular-season team. He added four more goals in 13 playoff games — including the Game 7 overtime winner against St. Louis — but admits he was far from his best by that point.

“It’s the playoffs, everyone is playing through different things. You’re giving it your all, you’re trying to do your best to win the Stanley Cup. Everyone has bumps and bruises and things that cause them discomfort,” he said.

“You know, two real heavy series. I look at that series against St. Louis and it was a war. It was real heavy and took a toll on a lot of guys. That’s one of those things where, going into the summer and coming into the start of the year, we’ve got to be prepared for. It’s going to be a battle to get into the playoffs, and once you’re there, it ramps up to another level.”

Lowry’s absence to start the season will loom large, but the Jets believe they’re deep enough to handle it. Mark Scheifele remains the top centre, while Vlad Namestnikov, Morgan Barron and free-agent addition Jonathan Toews round out the middle.

Despite wearing the “C,” Lowry was all-in when team co-owner Mark Chipman first called a meeting last winter to discuss the possibility of signing “Captain Serious,” the hometown hockey hero returning from a two-year health-related hiatus.

“It’s a huge deal. It means a lot to the guys in the room,” said Lowry.

“We feel like we’re a good team and we’re really pushing and to have him consider us as one of the contenders, one of those teams that he believes in. A smaller market. Generally a market people don’t choose freely to come to. I think it’s a testament to his belief in our group. I think when we saw that there were a few other options, you never know until it’s fully guaranteed. So now that we have him, we’re super excited to welcome him into the fold.”

So far, their time together has been limited to off the ice, as Lowry — who can’t take contact — works out on a separate sheet each day with former NHLer J.P. Vigier.

“Unfortunately, I’ve kind of been in solitary confinement, so I haven’t had the opportunity to get to see him out on the ice,” said Lowry.

“But talking to him throughout the summer and then getting to meet him for the first time here in the gym… it’s been great. He brings a wealth of knowledge and he’s got tremendous experience. There’s a reason why he’s as decorated as he is and seeing how he prepared himself in the gym, how he interacts with the guys, he’s fit right in.

“And you know, the buzz in the city is something else, something you feed off. We’re really excited to have a player of his caliber and stature in our organization.”

Unfortunately, the business of hockey also meant saying goodbye to a handful of teammates, including Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev, who all departed in free agency.

“It’s tough. You hate to see good friends go. And quality individuals, important pieces to our organization,” said Lowry.

“It’s a numbers game. You can only fit so many guys under your cap but, to see guys that have played here for so long that I’ve gotten the opportunity to play with for most of my career, it’s one of the worst parts of the job. They’re all going to good spots. We’re happy for them but you know, sad to see them go. But excited about the guys we welcomed in and excited about the opportunity our team has.”

On the subject of contracts, Lowry is about to enter the final year of his. He’s made no secret of his desire to retire as a Jet, having been drafted 67th overall in 2011, but admits patience may be required.

“I’d love to have an update. But, so far, I think there’s another guy that’s a little more important than me,” said Lowry — a direct reference to sniper Kyle Connor, who can also become a UFA July 1 and is likely at the top of general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s priority list.

“So, I don’t have any concerns about where we’re at. And I’m focused on my recovery. I’m focused on getting myself back to be a contributing player of the Winnipeg Jets. And as I said it before, I love playing in Winnipeg. I don’t see an issue with us getting something done eventually.

“Honestly, I’m just excited to get back out there working with everyone. We’re such a tight-knit team. We love coming to the rink. We love pushing each other. That’s what makes it fun, is competing. So I’m looking forward to getting back, hopefully not too much longer.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg