The Calgary Flames have lost a piece on their blue line for the remainder of the year.
Defenceman Kevin Bahl is set to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, the team announced Sunday.
"A terrible break for a guy that I would consider our best player up to this point in the season," head coach Ryan Huska said of Bahl's injury. "Unfortunately, sometimes things happen, and because of that, we're losing a really good player for the rest of the year."
Huska indicated Bahl, who played on Calgary's top defensive pairing with Simon Nemec, sustained the injury during warm-up before Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks.
"Warming up. It's kind of a freak thing. You don't hear of that, really ever," Huska said.
Joel Hanley took Bahl's place in the lineup as the Flames fell 5-3. In his first game since Oct. 3, Hanley scored Calgary's second goal of the night.
"This gives opportunity to different people. You look at Joel Hanley right now, getting a chance to get back in the lineup," Huska said.
Bahl had played in all 16 of Calgary's games this season, averaging a team-high 21:56 of ice time per night while collecting one goal and one assist, all while playing against opposing teams' top lines.
"You're gutted for the guy and selfishly, you're gutted for the team," Flames assistant captain Zach Whitecloud said. "Such a big part of this team and plays a lot of minutes."
Playing in his seventh NHL season, the New Westminster, B.C., native has picked up 12 goals and 53 assists in 313 games split between the Flames and New Jersey Devils.
Bahl, 26, was acquired by the Flames in 2024 as part of the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom to New Jersey.
-- with files from the Canadian Press
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