Bad news, everyone!

Calgary Flames forward Lance Bouma is out three months with a broken fibula. The fibula is the smaller of the two major bones in the lower leg, but breaking it is a major injury. The earliest we’ll see him on the ice is likely mid-January.

Bouma emerged as an on-ice (and locker room) leader of the Flames last season, with his shot-blocking and ruggedness on the penalty kill – combined with some preposterously-strong shooting percentages – making him incredibly useful. Sadly, his season will functionally be cut in half; though hopefully he can provide the team with a boost when he returns.

The better news: at least it was “only” his left fibula and not a re-injury of his right knee. He missed the entirety of the 2012-13 season (save two AHL games) with surgery to two different knee ligaments.