Flames Recall Ben Jones

The Calgary Flames have recalled a forward after placing Samuel Honzek on the injured reserve yesterday. According to a team announcement, the Flames recalled Ben Jones from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

Although Jones replaces Honzek on the Flames’ active roster, he won’t replace him in the lineup. Instead, Jones is taking the spot of captain Mikael Backlund. According to TSN’s Pat Steinberg, Backlund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury after leaving Calgary’s recent contest against the Carolina Hurricanes with a few minutes left in the third period.

The Flames are sending a message by recalling Jones. He may not be a prized prospect, or even the most skilled, but Calgary is showing that those who play the best in the AHL will get the first nod should an opportunity arise.

Make no bones about it, Jones has been the Wranglers’ best player early in the 2026-27 campaign. In seven games, the 27-year-old forward has scored seven goals and two assists. The team’s next closest goal-scorers are Sam Morton and Rory Kerins with three each.

Unfortunately for Jones, there’s no guarantee he plays. Despite Backlund’s upper-body injury, he hasn’t officially been ruled out for Thursday’s contest against the Minnesota Wild. Jones was centering the team’s top line this morning, meaning he very well could be a placeholder in practice and will quickly come out of the lineup if Backlund is healthy.