Before the start of the Flames’ training camp, general manager Craig Conroy and the coaching staff had a message for the young players.
There would be opportunities to make the opening-night roster, but you had to earn it.
That’s exactly what 2023 first-round pick Sam Honzek did.
He had a terrific training camp and has traded in his No. 42 for No. 29.
Honzek says he’s thrilled to earn a spot with the Flames.
“I still haven’t really processed it,” the 19-year-old forward said.
“It wasn’t official until this morning at practice. My first thing was where I saw myself last year, and I basically compared it to a year after, like where I am now.”
What a difference a year makes
Honzek struggled at last year’s camp and was sent back to junior, but his season with the Vancouver Giants was plagued by injuries.
Some had written him off.
Honzek says he used it as motivation.
“It’s tough to hear or see, but I knew that it was true,” …