As they prepare to depart for a two game western road trip, the Calgary Flames shared some injury news. On Monday morning, the Flames announced that forward Sam Honzek will be out week-to-week with a lower body injury.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska confirmed that Honzek suffered the injury in Thursday’s 7-3 Flames loss to the Colorado Avalanche. We’re not fully clear on how he was injured, though, as Honzek was a regular participant throughout the game, playing a season-high 15:53 on a line with Ryan Strome and Martin Pospisil.

Honzek was, however, absent from practice on Friday and then absent at Saturday’s morning skate. He also didn’t skate at Monday’s practice prior to the Flames’ departure for their road trip. As of right now, Honzek isn’t on the injury reserve list, as he remains on the active roster. However, he’s eligible to be placed on the IR if needed. At present, the Flames are carrying 23 players including Honzek, meaning they have a healthy extra forward and defenceman available if necessary.

“While he’s out, we’ll miss him for sure,” noted Huska after Monday’s skate. “Again, the speed that he brings to our lineup is something that’s very valuable. So hopefully it’s the shorter end of the week to week scale.”

A first-round pick by the Flames in the 2023 NHL Draft, Honzek has had rough injury luck since his draft year, missing time due to – deep breath, everyone – a skate cut, an abdominal injury, a facial injury, a concussion, a nagging lower body injury, and a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery last year. When he’s been healthy, he’s shown really well and carved out a role for himself as a reliable 200-foot forward. He’s been a fixture within the Flames’ middle six and penalty kill recently.

The Flames begin a two game western road trip on Tuesday night when they face the Anaheim Ducks in a rematch of Saturday’s clash at the Saddledome.