Boy, how one pre-season can change the perception of a player. That&#8217;s exactly the case for Calgary Flames 2023 first round pick, Sam Honzek.
Honzek went from being a player who fans and media were calling a bust for his lacklustre performance since being drafted, to being the best young forward in the preseason this fall. It&#8217;s been an unprecedented turnaround from one season to another.
With that in mind, what should be a reasonable expectation be for Honzek in his first season as a pro? Should expectations change now that Honzek is performing at this level?
I personally think it would be unfair to Honzek to heap on additional expectations on him because of one great preseason. Managing expectations for Honzek both internally by the Flames, and externally by the fans, will be important in developing him properly.
With that in mind, let&#8217;s take a look at some different expectations for Honzek this season.
<h1>Exceeds Expectations: Honzek is close to a point per game player in the AHL and plays some NHL games</h1>
Flames fans should be absolutely thrilled if Honzek is able to come close to being a point per game player in the AHL with the Wranglers. That would be fantastic production for a 19-year-old playing in his first season of professional hockey.
If the Wranglers are getting the Honzek we&#8217;re seeing this preseason, then it&#8217;s entirely realistic to think that could happen.
Honzek has put up one goal and five assists in four preseason games which is tied for second in the NHL as of Oct. 2. His counting stats are great, but the underlying numbers are even more impressive.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-131973" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers--1024x143.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="143" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers--1024x143.jpg 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers--300x42.jpg 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers--768x107.jpg 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers-.jpg 1090w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The Flames are a better team with Honzek on the ice in the preseason. They have outscored their opposition 7-1 at 5-on-5 and have an expected goals for percentage of 66.76%. All ridiculous numbers for a 19 year old.
And it&#8217;s not just the points that are impressive, it&#8217;s the impact he&#8217;s having on the game in all three zones. Honzek is doing a great job using his speed to create chaos on the forecheck. He&#8217;s using his reach and length to break up passes and make stick checks.
If Honzek is able to keep up this level of play, then he can absolutely exceed expectations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Sam Honzek scores a shorthanded beauty! He continues his incredible preseason!
🎥: FlamesTV <a href="https://t.co/cu1T8FBTcq">pic.twitter.com/cu1T8FBTcq</a>
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1840939276990624116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sam Honzek makes a great rush and then draws a penalty after engaging in a battle with the much bigger Vinny Desharnais.
Great shift for Honzek. <a href="https://t.co/kiYOsdnt3B">pic.twitter.com/kiYOsdnt3B</a>
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1839148236436545645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sam Honzek, Clark Bishop and Adam Klapka connect on a tic tac toe goal! Beautiful passing play by those three.
3-0 Calgary! <a href="https://t.co/dG8pyAzamm">pic.twitter.com/dG8pyAzamm</a>
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1838043714507456662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Matvei Gridin springs Sam Honzek in on a breakaway and he buries it!
All three Calgary Flames first round picks in this tournament have scored in this game. <a href="https://t.co/q2JBsiE3io">pic.twitter.com/q2JBsiE3io</a>
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1835820308747444433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<h1>Meets Expectations: At or above 0.75 point per game pace in the AHL and takes positive step forward in his development.</h1>
When looking at a development pathway for Honzek, look no further than Connor Zary.
Zary followed a similar path to Honzek. They were both first round picks. And they both dealt with serious injuries after being drafted by the Flames.
Zary put up 25 points in 53 games after suffering a foot injury in training camp. That derailed his season. But he was able to rebound the following year putting up 58 points in 72 AHL games and ultimately led to an NHL call up in the 2023-24 season.
Honzek could take a similar path this season. He put up 31 points in 33 WHL games in his 19-year-old year. A big drop off in production from his draft year where he scored 23 goals and 56 points in 43 games. But that was due to injuries.
So just like Zary, I expect Honzek to have a bounce back year. And that would be producing something along the lines of 45 points in 60 AHL games this season. It would be a success if Honzek could score at a 3/4 point per game pace as a rookie in the American Hockey League.
That may sound underwhelming based on Honzek&#8217;s preseason results. But I think it&#8217;s important to manage expectations for the first year pro.
<h1>Below Expectations: Below half a point per game in the AHL</h1>
It would be a disappointment if Honzek carried over his play from the last calendar year (prior to this preseason) into the AHL this season.
Honzek&#8217;s 2023-24 struggles date all the way back to last year’s Penticton Young Stars Classic where he struggled to make an impact. He carried that underwhelming play into the Flames 2023 preseason, training camp, and WHL season.
Putting up less than a half a point per game when featured in a prominent role in the AHL would be a step backward for Honzek.
But thankfully for Flames fans, it looks like those struggles could be attributed to youth and injuries. It looks like Honzek is 100% healthy and ready to take a major step forward in his development.
What are you expecting to see from Honzek this season? Let us know in the comments section!
<h1>This article is brought to you by Crystal Waters</h1>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-131942" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png" alt="" width="1024" height="341" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-300x100.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-768x256.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1536x512.png 1536w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg.png 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Crystal Waters is your Crystal Clear Choice for Home Comfort Solutions, including all plumbing, heating, and cooling equipment repairs, maintenance, and installation. Founded in 2001, and completing over 30,000 projects, our qualified professionals are the guardians of your home’s mechanical heart.
Call Crystal Waters Plumbing and Heating today at 403-219-4100 for a complete mechanical system audit, and learn how we can partner with you to ensure your home is optimized for safety, health, and comfort. Or check them out at <a href="http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727918572019000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vaooTqBXRsNchXvQ30iLG">www.crystalclearcalgary.com</a>

Boy, how one pre-season can change the perception of a player. That's exactly the case for Calgary Flames 2023 first round pick, Sam Honzek.

Honzek went from being a player who fans and media were calling a bust for his lacklustre performance since being drafted, to being the best young forward in the preseason this fall. It's been an unprecedented turnaround from one season to another.

With that in mind, what should be a reasonable expectation be for Honzek in his first season as a pro? Should expectations change now that Honzek is performing at this level?

I personally think it would be unfair to Honzek to heap on additional expectations on him because of one great preseason. Managing expectations for Honzek both internally by the Flames, and externally by the fans, will be important in developing him properly.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some different expectations for Honzek this season.
<h1>Exceeds Expectations: Honzek is close to a point per game player in the AHL and plays some NHL games</h1>
Flames fans should be absolutely thrilled if Honzek is able to come close to being a point per game player in the AHL with the Wranglers. That would be fantastic production for a 19-year-old playing in his first season of professional hockey.

If the Wranglers are getting the Honzek we're seeing this preseason, then it's entirely realistic to think that could happen.

Honzek has put up one goal and five assists in four preseason games which is tied for second in the NHL as of Oct. 2. His counting stats are great, but the underlying numbers are even more impressive.

<img class="size-large wp-image-131973" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Honzek-Numbers--1024x143.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="143" />

The Flames are a better team with Honzek on the ice in the preseason. They have outscored their opposition 7-1 at 5-on-5 and have an expected goals for percentage of 66.76%. All ridiculous numbers for a 19 year old.

And it's not just the points that are impressive, it's the impact he's having on the game in all three zones. Honzek is doing a great job using his speed to create chaos on the forecheck. He's using his reach and length to break up passes and make stick checks.

If Honzek is able to keep up this level of play, then he can absolutely exceed expectations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Sam Honzek scores a shorthanded beauty! He continues his incredible preseason!

🎥: FlamesTV <a href="https://t.co/cu1T8FBTcq">pic.twitter.com/cu1T8FBTcq</a>

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1840939276990624116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sam Honzek makes a great rush and then draws a penalty after engaging in a battle with the much bigger Vinny Desharnais.
Great shift for Honzek. <a href="https://t.co/kiYOsdnt3B">pic.twitter.com/kiYOsdnt3B</a>

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1839148236436545645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sam Honzek, Clark Bishop and Adam Klapka connect on a tic tac toe goal! Beautiful passing play by those three.
3-0 Calgary! <a href="https://t.co/dG8pyAzamm">pic.twitter.com/dG8pyAzamm</a>

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1838043714507456662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Matvei Gridin springs Sam Honzek in on a breakaway and he buries it!

All three Calgary Flames first round picks in this tournament have scored in this game. <a href="https://t.co/q2JBsiE3io">pic.twitter.com/q2JBsiE3io</a>

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1835820308747444433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<h1>Meets Expectations: At or above 0.75 point per game pace in the AHL and takes positive step forward in his development.</h1>
When looking at a development pathway for Honzek, look no further than Connor Zary.

Zary followed a similar path to Honzek. They were both first round picks. And they both dealt with serious injuries after being drafted by the Flames.

Zary put up 25 points in 53 games after suffering a foot injury in training camp. That derailed his season. But he was able to rebound the following year putting up 58 points in 72 AHL games and ultimately led to an NHL call up in the 2023-24 season.

Honzek could take a similar path this season. He put up 31 points in 33 WHL games in his 19-year-old year. A big drop off in production from his draft year where he scored 23 goals and 56 points in 43 games. But that was due to injuries.

So just like Zary, I expect Honzek to have a bounce back year. And that would be producing something along the lines of 45 points in 60 AHL games this season. It would be a success if Honzek could score at a 3/4 point per game pace as a rookie in the American Hockey League.

That may sound underwhelming based on Honzek's preseason results. But I think it's important to manage expectations for the first year pro.
<h1>Below Expectations: Below half a point per game in the AHL</h1>
It would be a disappointment if Honzek carried over his play from the last calendar year (prior to this preseason) into the AHL this season.

Honzek's 2023-24 struggles date all the way back to last year’s Penticton Young Stars Classic where he struggled to make an impact. He carried that underwhelming play into the Flames 2023 preseason, training camp, and WHL season.

Putting up less than a half a point per game when featured in a prominent role in the AHL would be a step backward for Honzek.

But thankfully for Flames fans, it looks like those struggles could be attributed to youth and injuries. It looks like Honzek is 100% healthy and ready to take a major step forward in his development.

What are you expecting to see from Honzek this season? Let us know in the comments section!
<h1>This article is brought to you by Crystal Waters</h1>
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-131942" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/CW_logo_Horz_RGB_WhtBkg-1024x341.png" alt="" width="1024" height="341" />Crystal Waters is your Crystal Clear Choice for Home Comfort Solutions, including all plumbing, heating, and cooling equipment repairs, maintenance, and installation. Founded in 2001, and completing over 30,000 projects, our qualified professionals are the guardians of your home’s mechanical heart.

Call Crystal Waters Plumbing and Heating today at 403-219-4100 for a complete mechanical system audit, and learn how we can partner with you to ensure your home is optimized for safety, health, and comfort. Or check them out at <a href="http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.crystalclearcalgary.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727918572019000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vaooTqBXRsNchXvQ30iLG">www.crystalclearcalgary.com</a>

What are reasonable expectations for Sam Honzek as a first-year pro?

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