Kevin Bahl’s season is over.
The Calgary Flames announced Sunday that the defenceman will be placed on injured reserve in preparation for season-ending surgery to repair his Achilles tendon.
Bahl, 26, was a late scratch for Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks with what the team described as a lower-body injury.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound blueliner last appeared for the Flames on Wednesday, skating 20:51 of ice time in an overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken.
The New Westminster, B.C. native had scored one goal with one assist while appearing in all 16 of Calgary’s games to open the year before the scratch on Saturday.
The Flames recalled defenceman Brayden Pachal from the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL on Sunday morning before news broke of Bahl’s injury.
Pachal is a veteran of 177 career games in the NHL across five seasons split between the Vegas Golden Knights and Flames.
He skated in 39 games for Calgary last season, registering one goal and six assists while averaging 13:53 of ice time per game.
In light of the injury to Bahl, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger expects Flames general manager Craig Conroy to explore the market for any available young blueliners or a defenceman on a short-term deal.
Dreger adds that Calgary is not willing to make a deal just to “fill the void.”
The Flames (7-9-1) are back on action on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers as they look to snap a two-game losing streak.