Calgary Flames hopeful Samuel Honzek has been a preseason standout

If the Calgary Flames handed out preseason awards, you can bet Samuel Honzek would receive Most Improved Player. 

When the 19-year-old prospect arrived in Penticton for the Young Stars Classic, with heavy expectations heaped on his shoulders, there were early external rumblings of discontent from those watching. 

Honzek, however, has gotten better in every appearance, it seems. He had a rough start in Penticton and the impatience that so often surrounds first-round picks surfaced. Not so much with the team — although head coach Ryan Huska admitted this week that he may also have been guilty of that last year — but certainly in the outer circles. 

That pressure was only magnified by the development camp and rookie camp stories about his offseason training with NHL sophomore and fellow Slovak Martin Pospisil. It's the kind of spotlight that comes with being a team's top pick in the draft, and Honzek was the Calgary Flames' choice in the first round in 2023 (16th overall). 

But after the opener in Penticton, people shifted the narrative toward his injury troubles last season, and the potential stalling of his development, rather than the effort he put in to overcome a mostly forgettable year. 

After a great start to his career in North America the previous season, Honzek suffered an injury in Flames training camp last fall and missed a couple of months before getting back on the ice and making an impact as captain of the Vancouver Giants and a key part of the Slovak roster at the World Juniors. 

Unfortunately, he was injured again in his first game back. Although he primarily played through it, it plagued him. His numbers (although limited) were still decent with 10 goals and 31 points in 33 regular-season games with the Giants. Another pair of goals in five WHL playoff contests, too. 

If he was tentative early on this month, he's far from reserved now as the preseason games get more intense. And with six points in three games, he's flipped that narrative again. 

Remember, this kid is just 19 years old, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs nearly 190 lb. He's a tough prospect to push off the puck, and is showing the combination of size, skill, speed and smarts to become a solid professional player. 

At worst, that seems to be what's next. It's hard to imagine the Flames organization sending him back for another junior season. But the way he's playing, his sights are set on more than just a spot with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.