On Thursday, following morning skate for the Calgary Flames, head coach Ryan Huska opened his media availability with an update on defenceman Jake Bean’s status.

And it wasn’t a rosy update (via Flames TV):

Huska was asked if “indefinitely” means “season-ending,” and he replied, “I don’t know that answer for sure yet, but it is something longer term.”

Bean is a 27-year-old left shot defender. A Calgary product, he was a first-round selection by Carolina in 2016 and he’s spent time in the NHL with the Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and his hometown Flames. He joined the Flames as a free agent during the 2024 off-season, and he’s bounced between the third pairing and the press box for much of his tenure in Calgary. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the expiry of his current contract at the end of June.

Bean last appeared in the Flames’ Dec. 6 win over Utah, at which point he was sidelined and the Flames called up Hunter Brzustewicz from the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers. Time will tell if Bean has played his last game for his hometown team, or if he’ll get another chance to show his quality – truth be told, he actually played pretty well this season after struggling at various points in 2024-25.

Bean’s extended absence has likely extended the window for the Flames to audition Brzustewicz as an everyday NHLer, and they likely won’t need to make any decisions on their blueline until Zayne Parekh returns from the World Juniors in mid-January.

The Flames are back in action on Thursday when they host the Seattle Kraken.