After narrowly missing the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, the Calgary Flames were awarded the 16th overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. With that selection, they drafted 6-foot-4 Slovakian forward Samuel Honzek.

In the two years since being drafted, Honzek has experienced his share of ups and downs—from battling injuries to getting a taste of the NHL. Let’s take a look at his journey as a Flames prospect so far.

The 2023-24 season didn’t start off well for Honzek. In his final pre-season game with the Flames, he suffered an abdominal injury that sidelined him for the first two months of the WHL season.

After playing just a handful of games upon his return, Honzek headed to Sweden to represent Slovakia at the World Junior Championship—his third appearance in the tournament. In five games, he recorded three goals and an assist before Slovakia was eliminated in the quarterfinals after an overtime loss to Finland.

Upon returning to the Vancouver Giants, Honzek’s injury struggles continued. In his first game back, he suffered a fractured sinus cavity, forcing him to wear a full-face shield for several weeks.

Despite the setbacks, Honzek managed to put up 24 points in 28 WHL games. The Giants faced the Everett Silvertips in the playoffs, where Honzek recorded two goals in a five-game series loss. It wasn’t the best season overall for Honzek, but considering what he was playing through, it wasn’t too bad.

Following Vancouver’s playoff elimination, Honzek was assigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers to get a taste of pro hockey. He played two regular-season games and one playoff game but did not record any points, though his overall performance was solid.

With an up-and-down season hampered by injuries, Honzek was ranked fourth on FlamesNation’s 2024 summer prospect rankings, the same position he started the season in.

Honzek kicked off the year at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, where many Flames fans had their eyes on him as a recent first-round pick. His performance at the event wasn’t overly impressive or what fans were hoping to see, but he finished the tournament strong note with a multi-point game.

Next came Flames training camp, where Honzek began turning heads. He looked at home alongside all the pro players and earned himself six pre-season games. In those six contests, he led the Flames in scoring with seven points.

With Yegor Sharangovich starting the season on injured reserve, a roster spot opened up. Thanks to his strong pre-season showing, Honzek earned a place on the opening-night roster. Not only did he crack the lineup, but he also started on the top line alongside Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko.

Honzek played in the Flames’ first four games of the season. Though he didn’t record any points, he held his own and didn’t look out of place. Unfortunately, a massive hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy sidelined him for five games.

Honzek returned in late October and suited up for one game against Utah before being sent down to the Wranglers on Oct. 31. By the time he was back, Sharangovich had also returned. With the Flames top-nine filled out, there wasn’t enough room on the roster for Honzek to play meaningful minutes. This made it logical for Honzek to get more playing time in the AHL.

With the Wranglers, Honzek saw his ice time increase and was utilized in various game situations. He has even played multiple games at centre in an effort to expand his skill set and increase his value moving forward. In 36 games with the Wranglers this season, he has recorded seven goals and 11 assists.

With more games still to be played, it will be interesting to see how Honzek finishes the season and where he slots in to begin next year.

Honzek remains an intriguing prospect in the Flames organization, with the potential to make an impact at the NHL level at any moment. His journey will be a compelling story to follow as he looks to graduate from prospect status and become a full-time Flame.