There are few gigs in professional sports less heralded than the frequent healthy scratch in the National Hockey League. Through the first 16 games of the Calgary Flames’ 2026-27 season, Joel Hanley was a paid spectator for 15 of them…
Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley was inserted into the lineup with just 15 minutes of notice before pre-game warm-ups against the Anaheim Ducks. Hanley, who had been a healthy scratch for 15 of the team's first 16 games, stepped in to replace Kevin Bahl after Bahl was ruled out due to a lower-body injury.
Skating on the top defensive pairing alongside Simon Nemec, Hanley logged 16:42 of ice time and scored his first goal since April 2025. Despite his offensive contribution, the Flames ultimately fell to the Ducks in a 5-3 defeat, though head coach Ryan Huska praised Hanley's preparation and readiness.
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