Calgary Flames’ Sam Honzek week-to-week with upper-body injury

The Calgary Flames have announced that rookie Sam Honzek is week-to week with an upper-body injury.

Honzek was injured during the October 15th game against the Chicago Blackhawks when defenseman Connor Murphy demolished him with a hit along the boards.

After an impressive preseason, the 19-year-old has appeared in four NHL games with Calgary so far this season.

Honzek spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he racked up 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 33 games. He also appeared in two games with the Flames’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Calgary Wranglers.

The Slovakian native was selected No. 16 overall by Calgary in the 2023 NHL Draft and signed his entry-level contract in July 2023.

Honzek spent the 2022-23 season with the Giants where he notched 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points in 43 regular season games. He added four points in four WHL Playoff games. Honzek missed nearly two months of action after suffering an injury at the World Juniors. Despite the setback, he started to rediscover his groove down the season’s stretch and finished second on the Giants in scoring.

Internationally, Honzek has represented Slovakia on numerous occasions including three World Junior appearances. During last year’s World Juniors, Honzek notched three goals and four points in five games.

Calgary is next in action on Saturday when they face off against the Seattle Kraken before hosting Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.