When you look at the Calgary Flames organization, was there a single young player that did more to elevate his standing during 2024 than Sam Honzek?

Honzek began the year in Sweden at the World Juniors, as Slovakia was eliminated by Finland in the quarterfinals in overtime on Jan 2.

He returned home to the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants… where he suffered a facial injury in his first game back and had to wear a protective shield (a “bubble”) for several weeks afterwards.

Here’s how Postmedia’s Steve Ewen described it:

In terms of performance, Honzek continued a WHL season that was pretty good, but seemed to be below what he was capable of. Honzek suffered an abdominal injury in his final pre-season game with the Flames in early October 2023, and he ended up missing the first two months of the WHL season – scuttling tentative plans to use him as a centre with the Giants. He posted 24 points in 28 WHL games after the World Juniors, and then had two points in a five game first round playoff loss to Everett.

Following the Giants’ elimination from the WHL playoffs, Honzek was assigned to the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers. He made his pro debut on Apr. 19 and played twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs. He looked solid, if unspectacular, in his first handful of AHL outings.

After a good showing at development camp, Honzek headed to Penticton for the Young Stars Classic with the hefty expectations that recent first-round picks tend to carry with them. He played in all three games and was gradually more noticeable, capping his weekend off with a multi-point game in the finale (and posting three points overall), but we wouldn’t call his performance impressive. He was fine.

But Honzek kept building his game and he got gradually better and better during Flames training camp. His positioning snapped into place. He kept up with the camp’s increasing pace. He played in six pre-season games and led the Flames with seven points. With Yegor Sharangovich beginning the season on the injury reserve the Flames had a roster spot up for grabs, and Honzek played his way onto the opening night roster.

Honzek played four games to start the season, not looking out of place at all in the team’s top nine but not generating a ton offensively. He was injured on a hit on Chicago’s Connor Murphy and missed five games.

He returned against Utah in late October and played that game before being assigned to the Wranglers on Oct. 31. (By this point Sharangovich had returned and sending Honzek to the minors to get a ton of ice time seemed like the best move.)

Well, Honzek went to the AHL and got a ton of ice time and built up his game. Honzek’s played primarily with Clark Bishop and Martin Frk – though he’s occasionally had Adam Klapka as a linemate. In 10 games in November, Honzek had a goal and three assists. In 10 games so far in December, he has three goals and eight points. He’s looked more and more comfortable on the ice, is getting playing time in most game situations, and even played a couple games at centre.

Honzek’s 2023 was mired by injuries and potential creeping doubts about his NHL upside. His 2024 saw him emerge as The Story of the Flames’ 2024 training camp, play his first five NHL games, and quietly grow into one of the Wranglers most promising players. All this and he just turned 20 in November.

We’re fascinated to see if he can continue this momentum into 2025.