Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman will remain sidelined through the upcoming Olympic break with an upper-body injury, per head coach Ryan Huska.

Speaking after the Flames practiced at the Saddledome on Wednesday, Huska announced that the club will keep Coleman sidelined for the final four games prior to the break. The 34-year-old winger has not played since Jan. 8 while recovering from an upper-body injury; the Flames will play their first game after the Winter Olympics on Feb. 26 in San Jose.

“Unfortunately, now, we’re going to shut him down until the break, so we won’t see him until after the break,” Huska said in his post-practice availability on Wednesday. “He’s an important piece of our team for sure, so we miss him.”

Coleman has taken part in recent Flames practices while sporting a yellow “no contact” jersey, but it appears the club is electing to play it safe — particularly with all the rumours of potential trade interest from other clubs in the 5’11” winger.

Through 44 games with the Flames this season, Coleman ranks second on the club with 13 goals and has 21 points. His plus-10 rating is also among the best on the team, and his partnership with captain Mikael Backlund remains as formidable as ever at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill.

The Flames originally signed Coleman to a six-year, $4.9 million-AAV contract as an unrestricted free agent from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. The Plano, Texas product has been consistently strong at both ends of the ice throughout his tenure in Calgary and scored a career-high 30 goals with the club in 2023-24.

In Coleman’s absence, the Flames have turned to Matt Coronato, Yegor Sharangovich, and Joel Farabee to carry more of the load on the Backlund line and the PK. The Flames currently sit in 30th place in the NHL with a 21-25-6 record and 48 points through 52 games.

Through 668 career games over 10 seasons with the Flames, Lightning, and New Jersey Devils, Coleman has amassed 163 goals and 311 points; he’s added 31 points in 65 playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021. He has a year-and-a-half left on his current contract with the Flames.

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