The Calgary Flames have been without blueliner Kevin Bahl for the past few games. By the sounds of it, they’ll be without him for a little while longer at least.

Per reports from colleagues at the rink, Flames head coach Ryan Huska shared on Wednesday that Bahl is out week-to-week with an upper body injury.

Bahl was injured during Saturday’s game between the Flames and the Minnesota Wild. He suffered an injury 4:40 into the second period on a hit into the boards from Wild forward Jakub Lauko.

Lauko was given a major on the initial sequence, but it was reviewed and reduced to a boarding minor. He fought Flames forward Ryan Lomberg later in the game.

The 24-year-old Bahl is in his first season with the Flames after being acquired from New Jersey in the Jacob Markstrom trade last June. Now in his second full NHL season, he’s found a really niche chemistry on the Flames’ tough-minutes pairing alongside Rasmus Andersson. Bahl has used his size and length to provide a really nice defensive presence, which has allowed Andersson to play a bit more up-tempo offensively than would otherwise be possible.

Through 47 games with the Flames this season, Bahl has two goals and 12 assists for 14 points – he trails only MacKenzie Weegar and Andersson for points by Flames defenders this season.

For the time being, the Flames’ active roster has 23 players: two goalies, eight defencemen, including Bahl, and 13 forwards. The Flames have the option to place him on the injury reserve list should they wish to open up a roster spot for another player. (Anybody placed on the IR has to miss a week, retroactive to the date of their injury, so Bahl will likely meet that requirement.) The Flames are also currently without Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland, both done for the season with knee injuries, and Connor Zary, who is expected to return at some undefined point later this season.

The Flames are back in action on Thursday when they host the Anaheim Ducks.