Scheduled return date would give top-prospect forward an opportunity to play at the World Juniors

Calgary Flames 2023 first-round draft choice Samuel Honzek has gone from a status of day-to-day to missing six-to-eight weeks due to the lower-body injury he suffered in the NHL pre-season.

Honzek was hurt in the first period of Calgary’s Oct. 4 exhibition game against the Edmonton Oilers, and assigned to the WHL’s Vancouver Giants the next day.

Honzek was spotted a couple of days later watching the Flames practice at the Saddledome, and the team has offered no update.

However, Giants GM Barclay Parneta told PostMedia’s Steve Ewen Honzek will miss a substantial amount of time, but offered little other information, other than the teenager will rehabilitate his injury in Calgary.

The timeframe for a return would put Honzek in the lineup around the start of December, which still would allow him the opportunity to play for Slovakia at the World Juniors for the third time.

Honzek, Calgary’s 16th overall pick in this year’s draft, was expected to be an impact player for the Giants in what will likely be his last junior season.

Due to an injury at last year’s world juniors, his leg was cut by a skate, Honzek was limited to only 43 WHL games last season in which he collected 23 goals and 56 points.

The Giants, who have a 2-3-1 record to start the season, added another import forward in Patrik Kral a few days after Honzek was injured.