The Calgary Flames’ forward depth will be tested over the next little while, and it will possibly result in some opportunity for some of the organization’s up-and-comers. The club announced on Tuesday that forward John Beecher will be out week-to-week with an upper body injury.

Beecher was injured in the second period of Saturday’s game between the Flames and the Nashville Predators. Beecher clocked Predators forward Michael McCarron with a punch during a scrum in front of the Flames’ bench… while McCarron was being physically restrained by the officials and couldn’t defend himself. (McCarron had thrown some punches at Beecher before the Flames forward had dropped his gloves to fight, so we get why Beecher was upset, but it’s still not something that should be done in sports.)

Later in the game, Beecher answered the bell in response to his indiscretion, dropping the gloves with Predators defender Nicolas Hague. Beecher, in just his third NHL fight and sixth overall as a pro (per Hockey Fights), didn’t fare all that well, taking a few big shots and ending up with an upper body injury – he headed to the Flames’ locker room after the bout favouring one of his arms. To add insult to literal injury, Beecher was given a one game suspension for his punch to McCarron, which he served on Monday night in the Flames’ game against Seattle.

The 24-year-old Beecher was a first-round selection by the Boston Bruins in the 2019 NHL Draft. He was claimed off the waiver wire by the Flames back in November. In 19 games with the Flames, all on the fourth line, the left shot forward has two points. With Beecher unavailable, the Flames brought up William Stromgren from the Wranglers on Monday to bring them to 13 healthy forwards.

Beecher has also been placed on the injury reserve list, dropping the Flames’ active roster to 22 players: two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. That leaves the club with one open roster spot, which would allow them to bring back Zayne Parekh from his loan to the Canadian national junior team. Currently also on the Flames’ IR are Sam Honzek, Jake Bean and Martin Pospisil. Pospisil has resumed skating on his own and, if he keeps progressing, could end up joining Flames practices when they return from their road trip.

The Flames open a five game eastern road trip on Wednesday night when they visit the Montreal Canadiens.

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