When the Calgary Flames selected Sam Honzek 16th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, it came with mixed reactions. Some believed that Honzek was a smart pick, while others thought the Flames played it safe. Either way, Honzek was a player who was sort of a wild card given his injury history and overall play at the junior level.

Fast forward to today, where concerns about Honzek’s development are still present. He has since struggled with various injuries and hasn’t been entirely impactful when playing. This season, he had a great training camp and ended up making the Flames’ opening night roster, but since then, he’s been disappointing at the AHL level.

With all that being said, we know anything can happen in the world of sports. If the Flames decide that they want to be aggressive to improve their team, it’ll come with tough decisions. To make big moves, sacrifices need to be made, and if concerns continue on Honzek, it may be time to view him as a potential trade chip for the team.

Was Honzek the right pick for the Flames at the time?

While it was Craig Conroy’s first NHL draft as Flames General Manager, I’m convinced that he didn’t have full say when it came to drafting Honzek. Looking back at the Flames draft last year, there was something to like at every pick as skillful selections were made. The 2024 draft was Conroy’s to dictate, while in 2023, it didn’t seem that way at all.

Here are some of the players the Flames could’ve selected instead of Honzek at 16th overall: Axel Sandin-Pellika, Colby Barlow, Oliver Moore, and Gabriel Perreault. While Honzek wasn’t exactly the worst pick at the time, there were better players available. Only time will tell how the Honzek pick ages. I feel that if Conroy had full control of that draft, he likely would’ve picked someone else.

DEFENSEMAN HAT-TRICK! 🧢🧢🧢

Red Wings’ 1st rounder in 2023, Axel Sandin-Pellika, is off to a 🔥 start at #WorldJuniors 🇸🇪

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What is Honzek’s ceiling at the NHL level?

Honzek has all the tools to be an effective player at the NHL level, but what is his ceiling exactly? The Flames drafted him with the idea that he could be a future centre. However, this seems unlikely. Honzek’s natural position is on the wing, where he excels the most.

As for what his pro ceiling could be, it’s looking kind of murky. The best-case scenario is that Honzek develops into a strong top-six forward, but I see him turning into more of a bottom-six presence. That’s also assuming that his health is in order, but Honzek seems to catch the injury bug at least once a season.

Why the Flames should use Honzek as a trade piece

Now I know it sounds crazy that the Flames should consider trading Honzek. He’s only 20 years old and in some ways has been experiencing a boatload of bad luck. However, hockey is a business, and making hard decisions comes with the job description of being an NHL GM.

Honzek’s development has hit some concerning roadblocks. Injuries have disrupted his progression, and his performance at the AHL level has been underwhelming. If this trend continues, it may be time to reconsider his long-term fit within the organization.

I can see Honzek being used as an asset that’s involved in a trade to bring in bigger pieces. An example would be how Jakob Pelletier was included with Andrei Kuzmenko and draft picks to acquire Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. Another example is Honzek being used as a “sweeter” along with other assets for the Flames to move up in this year’s draft. I don’t see a situation where the Flames would just trade Honzek for draft picks or in a one-for-one swap with another prospect, unless it made sense for both parties.

Either way, in the offseason, lots of unexpected things can happen. Honzek could potentially be an asset that the Flames utilize along with other assets to make a big move. If he’s included in a trade, it’s likely going to be a significant one.

Final thoughts

While the belief is that giving up on Honzek right now would be too early, the time is ticking on his development. If Honzek doesn’t show significant progress next season, his future with the Flames could be up in the air.

As the Flames continue to build up their prospect pool, some players may get pushed down the depth chart. Honzek has the potential to be one of those players unless he stands out for the right reasons over the next few seasons. If not, it may be time for the Flames to capitalize on the value he has until it diminishes.

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