Samuel Honzek’s path with the Flames has already been shaped as much by bad breaks as by promise.
That’s the backdrop for a player Calgary still sees plenty of upside in. Honzek, the club’s 2023 first-round pick, has the size, skill and hockey sense to matter. He’s also spent a lot of time dealing with injuries that have interrupted his development at almost every turn.
The injury history started to pile up early. After turning heads in Slovakia, Honzek came to the Western Hockey League through the CHL’s annual import draft and joined the Vancouver Giants in 2022-23.
Then came a skate cut at the World Juniors on Dec. 28, which cost him seven weeks. The next season brought an abdominal injury in an NHL pre-season game, and that sidelined him until December.
Not long after that, a fluke facial injury forced him into a face shield for several weeks.
He was healthier in 2024-25, though not untouched. A hit against Chicago left him out for a couple of weeks, and a minor lower-body injury cost him a couple more.
Even so, there were signs of progress. He added a bunch of muscle in the off-season and came into camp with a stronger look, enough to earn attention before being sent to the AHL late in training camp.
That stint didn’t last long. Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil were ruled unavailable because of injury, and Honzek was brought back up.
Once in the NHL, he found a role that suited him, settling onto a checking line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. He made the most of it, showing the kind of adaptability and smarts that can keep a young forward in the picture.
Then another strange play ended his season early when he and Backlund accidentally collided.
Three years after Calgary made him a first-round selection, the outline of Honzek’s game is pretty clear. He may not be the flashiest player on the ice, but he’s shown enough intelligence and versatility to suggest he can become an important part of the Flames’ system.
And that’s why the injury question matters so much. Calgary’s young core is supposed to drive the next step for the team, and Honzek looks like one of the pieces they’d like to have in place. If his luck finally turns the way Mikael Backlund’s did, an injury-free 2026-27 season could go a long way toward locking Honzek into a real NHL role.
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Flames Fans Will Love This Brutal Take On Edmontons Blue Line
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Former Flame Weighs In On A Debate Calgary Fans Know Too Well
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MacKenzie Weegar added his own perspective to that discussion, and it carried a different tone than the usual skepticism. The Canadian-born defenseman made it clear his time in Calgary and in Canada was a positive one, a reminder that the pull of Canadian hockey can still matter to players who appreciate the passion around the game. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Radio Picture Is Clearing Up But One Spot Still Looms
The Flames radio future is starting to take shape after the closure of Sportsnet 960, with QR 770 stepping in on a five-year agreement to become Calgarys new broadcast home. Derek Wills will stay on as the play-by-play voice, giving the station a familiar lead-in as it builds out its hockey coverage around the team.
Pat Steinberg and Jock Wilson are also set to host a daily Flames show, giving listeners a fresh weekday hub for team coverage and conversation. One piece still hasnt been filled in, though, and it is the one that will matter most once game night arrives: the club has not yet announced who will handle colour commentary on Flames broadcasts. [Read more 🡒]