Two dozen players stepped on the ice Thursday for the start of Calgary Flames’ rookie camp, each and every one of ‘em aiming to pull a Sam Honzek.
Including … Sam Honzek.
You probably don’t need to be reminded that this power-forward prospect was the biggest story for the Flames last fall, one of those rare dudes to go from rookie-camp attendee to opening-night NHLer.
While most of these youngsters will soon enough be returned to junior or dispatched to the minors, they’re all hoping to replicate what Honzek managed a year ago, a feat that the 20-year-old lefty is optimistic he can repeat after adding 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season.
“Just put your head down and work hard, really hard, and never let off from the gas for one shift and earn a spot on the team,” said Honzek, detailing the recipe that made him a pre-season revelation as a first-year pro in 2024. “It’s doable, and I can do it again.”
Indeed, he is the prime example of what all these rookie-campers are chasing.
There are statements to be made, starting with Friday’s clash against the Oilers’ up-and-comers in Edmonton. There will be a rematch of the Baby Battle of Alberta on Sunday at the Saddledome.
“The message came right from (general manager) Craig Conroy in the opening meeting — ‘We’re going to take the players that help us win,’ ” relayed Brett Sutter, the new head coach of the AHL’s Wranglers. “This isn’t a dip-your-toe-in-the-water scenario. You have a week before main camp starts to show how you can help the Calgary Flames win games. And if you’re on that list, then you’re going to get the opportunity.
“Sam came in last year and had a great camp. He’s come in here, he looks really good. He had a really good day in testing (Wednesday). So he’s one of those guys that you’d expect to be pushing the envelope here.”
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On paper, with essentially all of the regulars returning, there’s not necessarily room for Honzek on the Flames’ opening-night roster.
Then again, wasn’t that also the case a year ago? So why would it be far-fetched now to think that this 2023 first-rounder could be a factor on Oct. 8? He is one of those guys who could leave a veteran feeling a little anxious about his job security.
Don’t forget that the Flames would love to be a little bigger. Honzek stands 6-foot-4 and after adding 15 pounds this summer, his total weight certainly starts with a 2.
Don’t forget that the Flames would love to be a little faster. In top gear, Honzek can help push the pace. As he told reporters after Thursday’s practice at WinSport: “I feel a little bit heavier on the ice, but I think my speed stayed the same, which is good.”
Calgary Flames forward Sam Honzek practices as the team’s Prospects’ Training Camp kicked off at WinSport in Calgary on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Don’t forget that the Flames need to score more goals, as obvious a statement as you’ll read after they finished 29th in the NHL in offence last season. Honzek has the puck protection and playmaking abilities to be a handful for opposing defenders.
His biggest boosters will simply point to his performance last fall, when he became the first teenage forward in close to a decade to score a spot with Calgary’s Game 1 group. In fact, he started that evening alongside first-line centre Nazem Kadri.
His detractors will remind that he was demoted to the AHL after only five big-league appearances — and a brief absence due to injury — and posted an underwhelming stat-line with the Wranglers. He mustered eight goals and 13 assists in 52 AHL outings, was never really in the call-up conversation and explained in Thursday’s media scrum that he got down on himself and wasn’t able to recapture his momentum.
“Be better on the walls, play harder, be harder on the puck … ” said Honzek, rattling off the marching orders from his exit meeting back in April. “That’s where I have to be better and I have to bring it this camp — be better on the wall and getting the pucks from the forecheck and using the extra muscles I gained during the summer to use it my advantage.
“One other thing was being consistent with that. You know, how I played last pre-season and training camp, I have to just be like that the whole season.”
For starters, he has to be like that for the next few days.
And then the next few weeks.
Two dozen players have that exact same thing in mind.
“There’s lots more guys coming in and it’s going to be more competitive, but that’s just good because it’s going to help us improve,” Honzek said. “Either it’s me or Aydar (Suniev) or Zayne (Parekh) or lots of other guys. It’s going to be great.”