Flames’ Joel Hanley to miss rest of 2025-26 season
A premature end of the year for a veteran blueliner out west.
When speaking to the media on Saturday, Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska revealed that defenseman Joely Hanley will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Joel Hanley is likely done for the season, per head coach Ryan Huska. Sustained an injury Thursday night. #Flames
Huska didn’t state what exactly is ailing Hanley, saying no more than the 34-year-old suffered an injury on Thursday night, when the Flames took on the Anaheim Ducks. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary for him. He logged 15:28 of ice time across 22 shifts, finishing the game with an even plus/minus. His last shift came in the final minute of regulation, but he didn’t see the ice in overtime, with Calgary coming out on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision.
Hanley isn’t the first Flames player to be shut down for the rest of the season. Forward Sam Honzek was officially ruled out for the final few weeks on Friday. The 21-year-old underwent surgery back in November that has kept him out of action for the past four months.
Despite being a healthy scratch once and missing a game earlier this month due to illness, Hanley has been in Calgary’s lineup for most of the season. In 68 games, the Keswick, Ont. native has posted seven assists, but no goals. He has a -5 rating this year while averaging 14:40 of ice time.
This was Hanley’s second full season with the Flames. He was claimed by the Flames off waivers from the Dallas Stars just before the 2024 trade deadline. Hanley posted just nine points in 53 games last year with the team.
In 314 regular-season NHL games, Hanley has scored five goals and 40 assists for 45 points, with another three points coming in 33 postseason contests. He was in the first season of his two-year contract that he signed last July. The deal carries an AAV of $1.75 million.
The Flames (30-34-8) are seventh in the Pacific Division, nine points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.