An absolutely horrifying blow hits the Calgary Flames as defenseman is ruled out for the season

Calgary Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl will miss the remainder of the 2026-27 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, the team announced.

The 26-year-old's year ends after only 16 games, and Calgary loses one of its heaviest workhorses on the back end.

Bahl was a late scratch against Anaheim on Nov. 6 with a lower-body injury, and Joel Hanley was thrown in next to Simon Nemec on the top pair with almost no notice.

The Flames placed Bahl on injured reserve Sunday and recalled Brayden Pachal from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.

The Achilles diagnosis now answers the question of how long he would be out.

Before getting hurt, Bahl had one goal and two points, 12 shots, 16 blocks and 22 hits.

His value was never really in the box score.

Last season he led all Flames skaters at 22:13 of ice time per game across 76 appearances, and his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame gives Calgary a physical, hard-to-beat presence that is difficult to copy.

Hanley and Pachal can fill the roster spot, but neither replicates a 22-minute workload.

Those minutes have to go somewhere, which means heavier loads for the remaining top-four defensemen and more exposure for whoever slides up the lineup.

That matters for a team sitting below .500 in the early going, where every point already carries weight in the Pacific Division.

The contract side is settled for now.

Bahl signed a six-year extension worth $5.35 million per season in June 2025, so the deal has plenty of runway left and the Flames clearly view him as a core piece.

Achilles recoveries for athletes typically take many months, so attention turns to his readiness for the start of next season.

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