Samuel Honzek was back on the ice with the Calgary Flames on Friday, marking his first skate with the team since sustaining an upper-body injury on November 15 that required surgery.
Honzek made a strong impression to start the season, recording two goals and two assists in 18 games. Skating alongside Mikael Backlund, (who he subsequently collided with to sustain his injury) he contributed reliable defensive play and logged time on the penalty kill.
There is still no available timeline for his return to game action, but his return to practice is an encouraging step in his recovery.
The 6-foot-4, 186-pound forward was selected 16th overall by Calgary in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. A native of Trenčín, Slovakia, Honzek remains a key part of the Flames’ emerging young core as the team continues to shape its identity moving forward.