Professional sports can be a tough business, folks. Spots in the big leagues are so competitive that grabbing and keeping a spot is almost as much about luck as it is about talent.

Years back, the Calgary Flames drafted a promising Swedish centre by the name of Mikael Backlund. Backlund was a really promising player that showed flashes of brilliance, but he had just awful injury luck throughout the early part of his pro career that kept him from showing his true quality. Lucky for Backlund – and the Flames – his luck eventually turned and he became one of the better two-way players in franchise history.

With that in mind, let’s talk about a more recent Flames first-round selection who’s had to deal with some injury frustrations, Samuel Honzek.

A product of Slovakia, Honzek has size, skill, smarts… and rough, rough injury luck. He turned heads in his homeland in youth and junior hockey, and then headed to the Western Hockey League via the CHL’s annual import draft. Joining the Vancouver Giants in 2022-23. He suffered a skate cut at the World Juniors on Dec. 28 and missed seven weeks. The following season, he suffered an abdominal injury in an NHL pre-season game and was out until December. (He later suffered a facial injury off a fluke play that resulted in him wearing a face shield for several weeks.) He was relatively healthy in 2024-25, aside from missing a couple weeks after getting crushed by a hit against Chicago, and missing a couple weeks with a minor lower body injury.

Last season, after adding a bunch of muscle in the off-season and impressing in camp, Honzek was sent to the AHL late in training camp, but was brought back up after Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil were deemed unavailable due to injury. Honzek impressed, finding a niche on the checking line with Backlund and Blake Coleman, but his season was cut short off a fluke play where he and Backlund inadvertently crashed into each other.

Three years after his selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, here’s what we know about Honzek. Is he the most dynamic player in the world? Probably not. But he’s shown a ton of smarts, a lot of adaptability, and during his NHL run early last season, he showcased his ability to potentially grow into a key role within the Flames’ system.

He could grow into a key piece of the puzzle for a Flames team that likely hopes to turn the corner in the next few seasons, with the team’s bevy of young players driving that improvement. Hopefully Honzek’s injury luck can finally turn, as Backlund’s finally did in his early 20s. An injury-free 2026-27 campaign would do wonders for cementing Honzek’s spot on the NHL roster.

THE OFFSEASON SOCIAL CLUB HAS ARRIVED! The new era of Nation Gear starts here. Introducing the Nation Gear x Levelwear Offseason Social Club Collection — a limited edition collection built for the fans who know the sports lifestyle doesn’t stop. Designed for golf rounds, patio hangs, weekend trips, and every plan in between, this collection blends premium performance with everyday leisure. It’s versatile enough to dress up, comfortable enough to live in, and made for wherever the offseason takes you. Because being a sports fan isn’t a season — it’s a personality. Welcome to the club. Shop the Offseason Social Club now. nationgear.ca