Prospect Info: Samuel Honzek (LW/C) Vancouver Giants (Drafted 16th overall 2023)

[salwan]

I don’t know if he was ever officially labeled as a project, but every scouting report as well as the eye test came out the same. A 6’4, 185 pounder with good skating despite a flawed and janky stride, who wasn’t using his body to his advantage yet and dealing with injury issues. To me that screams a guy has the potential to make huge jumps as he adds mass and power, which will only benefit his skating while he also gets used to his height and fixes his mechanics. So while not labeled a project, definitely a guy you draft for what he might look like at when he’s 210 pounds and done growing, which was impressive because he was absolutely piling up the points in his draft year before his injury.

Said it back then and I’ll say it again, if he didn’t get injured his draft year he was a top 10 pick. Guy started his season with 30 points in 21 games as a WHL rookie that year. How good he looks offensively only came to a surprise to people that didn’t pay attention, and he’s still no where close to a finished project. Guy took this leap after 1 year of training with a fellow pro, and dropped a quote that said this was the first summer he’s really added in mobility work.
He has so much room to grow still.

here's a translated quote from a Slovak journalist:

If you're wondering where Samo Honzek has been so far, I'll just add this quote from after last season: "It was shaky, as I was sidelined for almost three months early on due to an injury to my abdominal muscle, which I had torn near my groin. Luckily they didn't have to operate on it. After that, I only had a few games at the club and immediately went to the junior championships in Sweden. I had some minor health problems afterwards as well, it was hard to keep going, so I'm also a bit angry with myself that the year didn't go as planned." He had already hinted at his potential at the World Junior Championships when he played 'mature' hockey. Now he's locked himself in the gym with Martin Pospisil, got stronger, put on some weight and as a result his performances in preparation have been awesome.

So it seems that he was struggling with injuries all of last season and couldn't really focus on getting better.

 

[Figgy44]

here's a translated quote from a Slovak journalist:

If you're wondering where Samo Honzek has been so far, I'll just add this quote from after last season: "It was shaky, as I was sidelined for almost three months early on due to an injury to my abdominal muscle, which I had torn near my groin. Luckily they didn't have to operate on it. After that, I only had a few games at the club and immediately went to the junior championships in Sweden. I had some minor health problems afterwards as well, it was hard to keep going, so I'm also a bit angry with myself that the year didn't go as planned." He had already hinted at his potential at the World Junior Championships when he played 'mature' hockey. Now he's locked himself in the gym with Martin Pospisil, got stronger, put on some weight and as a result his performances in preparation have been awesome.

So it seems that he was struggling with injuries all of last season and couldn't really focus on getting better.

Sew some mesh into this guy ASAP to stop the injuries! (Mikael Backlund reference to when he was injury prone, but after an ab surgery to sew mesh into the affected areas, he's been quite healthy overall).

Super glad to see him find a program that has been working for him. I wonder if this means playing at C will happen (if demoted) and if his progression also rubs off on Lipinski.

EDIT: It's kinda crazy that like Valimaki, quite a few of us are kinda like, "Huh?" on the guy after drafting, but we start to see what our scouts saw a few years later. I just hope he doesn't get permanently derailed like Valimaki. It's also kinda crazy to believe that the original whisperings of a potential Rantanen type player were laughed at or dismissed (in hopes not to jinx it) for being a total pipe dream... but now we're actually kinda like, "Oh shit, there might actually be something like that in him."

 

[Ace Rimmer]

NHL preseasons are always jam-packed with drama and anticipation for what has yet to come. Young prospects and minor leaguers are trying to prove they are ready to play in the bigs, and on the opposite side of the spectrum, many veterans are out trying to prove they still belong. In these regards, the 2024-25 rendition has spared us no expense so far. For the Calgary Flames, an abundance of storylines are making waves, especially with the new youth movement coming through as the franchise rebuilds. The team now boasts a few high-quality youngsters who are chomping at the bit to showcase their talents to secure themselves an NHL roster spot.

Flames' Honzek Deserving of NHL Roster Spot - The Hockey Writers Calgary Flames Latest News, Analysis & More

After being drafted 16th overall in 2023, Sam Honzek hasn't excited many Calgary Flames fans. Could he shock us and make the team?

thehockeywriters.com

 

[joescores]

Hoping for Honzo to be in the Flames line-up on Wednesday. The management are doing it correctly, we are lucky to have Conny, Huska and co as our management team.

 

[joescores]

Honzo looked timid, nervous and out of sorts but not disastrous.

Look forward seeing him again on Saturday- hope he is given another chance.

Morton will be most likely called up.

 

[Figgy44]

Honzo looked timid, nervous and out of sorts but not disastrous.

Look forward seeing him again on Saturday- hope he is given another chance.

Morton will be most likely called up.

He could use a little more strength. I saw a few clips where he was trying to get to the net but was relatively easily boxed out. It's nice to be optimistic about him again.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

I’d like to see him play 4C. Give him time on the PK and PP. he’s got the skill to be a dominant C down the road. He can go back to the AHL once Romney is back to play 20 minutes a night at C

Let Coronato play with Kadri and Kuz.

 

[MM917]

If we are playing him at C he needs to go to the WHL or AHL (well he should be there anyways). He has barely played center in his career and the NHL isn;t the place to learn it especially for a guy as limited as Honzek is.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

For those looking at box scores, Honzek is playing well. His possession numbers look good and he’s got positive Corsi and Fenwick numbers… the pucks just not going in for him.

 

[Mobiandi]

He looks better than Tkachuk looked in his first few games. He might stick if he gets a few points soon

 

[joescores]

He looks better than Tkachuk looked in his first few games. He might stick if he gets a few points soon

Was very unlucky in each of his outings. He might pop with a 3 point game next.

He is being less hesitant each game, Kuzy keeps talking to him all the time- so it can:

A- provide with value
B- impact his confidence, leading to overthinking

He just need to find the right balance and he will be all right.

Slaf only had 10 pts in his first 39 games...

 

[Anglesmith]

I think he's playing very safe positionally, so it isn't like he's causing big issues or anything. I'm just finding that he's regularly not making plays when they're available because he just isn't quite ready for the tiny window of opportunity.

Like, he'll play the wall correctly on the breakout, there will be a chance to make a play for a clean zone exit but he hesitates and reverses. The Flames eventually exit, but without much danger for the opposition.

Or he has it in the neutral zone and a play opens up to allow an entry with speed, but he misses it and dumps instead.

That's the kind of thing that is leading me to think he won't last.

 

[Yepthatsme]

I think he's playing very safe positionally, so it isn't like he's causing big issues or anything. I'm just finding that he's regularly not making plays when they're available because he just isn't quite ready for the tiny window of opportunity.

Like, he'll play the wall correctly on the breakout, there will be a chance to make a play for a clean zone exit but he hesitates and reverses. The Flames eventually exit, but without much danger for the opposition.

Or he has it in the neutral zone and a play opens up to allow an entry with speed, but he misses it and dumps instead.

That's the kind of thing that is leading me to think he won't last.

The truth of it is he isn’t forcing the team to keep him up anymore. Management, the fans, plus everyone and their dog know that a year in the AHL is probably what’s best for him developmentally. Honzek’s play made it impossible to send him down after camp. Now while I still think he has played well and has been getting his looks, he is no longer absolutely forcing Calgary to keep playing him. Him and his line could start having the bounces go their way and change that soon, but as of now I think he finishes his cup of tea and Coronato takes that spot until Rango’s back

 

[Lunatik]

I think he's playing very safe positionally, so it isn't like he's causing big issues or anything. I'm just finding that he's regularly not making plays when they're available because he just isn't quite ready for the tiny window of opportunity.

Like, he'll play the wall correctly on the breakout, there will be a chance to make a play for a clean zone exit but he hesitates and reverses. The Flames eventually exit, but without much danger for the opposition.

Or he has it in the neutral zone and a play opens up to allow an entry with speed, but he misses it and dumps instead.

That's the kind of thing that is leading me to think he won't last.

I suspect he gets sent down after the next homestand. If he plays all games, that will have him at 8 and the Wranglers are starting a long-ass 8-game homestand and will be at home from the 25th until mid-November, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to take him to Vegas to get game #9 before sending him down.

 

[vlady]

Kid got off to a slow start in the AHL, but he seems to be finding some form now. Scored a beauty in the last game. Basically a copy of his shorthanded goal from the pre-season

 

[super6646]

He's looked very good in the AHL this season. Surprised how well he transitioned considering his struggles last year. Yes yes ik about the injuries, but he's looked like a legit pro talent at barely 20 years old.

 

[Yepthatsme]

He's looked very good in the AHL this season. Surprised how well he transitioned considering his struggles last year. Yes yes ik about the injuries, but he's looked like a legit pro talent at barely 20 years old.

I mean I’ve been excited about Honzek when many were not, but the best part about Honzek is that he shouldn’t be this good yet. I had tempered expectations for his first year, knowing he’s a project style prospect, but him adapting this quick with his laneway for improvement is something. I always billed Coronato as our best forward prospect, but Honzek is swaying me in his direction with him looking more likely to hit his ceiling by the day.

Ironic the comparisons he’s always unjustly had to Jankowski with the “he’s 4 years away from being good”, where Jankowski seemingly turned into 4 years away from being 4 years away, while Honzek has been a standout so early in his progression.

 

[crackdown44]

Hoping I eat crow on this one. Never liked the pick never really liked the player but he’s looked fantastic this year