Calgary Flames get devastating injury update on Kevin Bahl
The Calgary Flames will have to move forward without one of their best defenceman.
Kevin Bahl was mysteriously absent from Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, with the Flames replacing him with Joel Hanley at the last minute. The initial word was that the 26-year-old defenceman was suffering from a lower-body injury, but details were sparse on how serious it was.
On Sunday, the Flames released an injury update on Bahl, and it was the worst possible outcome. The BC native will miss the remainder of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon and will need season-ending surgery to repair it.
Defenceman Kevin Bahl will be placed on the Injured Reserve and will require season-ending surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon.#Flames | @MFradiology pic.twitter.com/D8d5ehhNSg
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 8, 2026
The injury was not sustained in a game for Bahl, as it reportedly happened before warmups on Friday. It’s a massive blow for Calgary, as he was experiencing a bit of a breakout season through the first 16 games of the year.
Bahl quickly rose up the ranks and was a top pair defenceman for the Flames before the injury hit. With him now out for the remainder of the season, the buck will be passed to other members of the Calgary blueline to pick up the slack.
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
Hanley came in to replace Bahl on Friday, while Jacob Middleton and Yan Kuznetsov rounded out the left side of the defensive group. In the AHL, potential call-up options include a couple of RD options in Brayden Pachal and Hunter Brzustewicz.
It will be up to Flames GM Craig Conroy to decide how to deal with the loss. Calgary wasn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot this season, but the team does seem to be competitive after a rough start to the season.
They have rebounded from a 0-5-0 start to win seven of their last 12 to claw themselves from the bottom of the league to the upper basement. Losing out on Bahl will hurt their chances, which will surely help their lottery chances heading into next summer.