Calgary Flames forward A.J. Greer out for eight weeks with fractured foot

Greer joined the Flames via waiver claim back on Oct. 9 from the Boston Bruins. Since arriving in Calgary, he’s bee really, really effective in his role. Playing exclusively on the left side of the fourth line, Greer has six goals and 10 points in 47 games.

An eight week absence, from the time of injury, would ballpark Greer’s availability to be around Mar. 25, two weeks after the NHL’s trade deadline. That probably precludes the Flames from entertaining offers for Greer’s services, as teams are technically allowed to trade injured players but it very rarely happens.

Speaking after Saturday’s morning skate, Flames head coach Ryan Huska commented on what the Flames lose via Greer’s absence.

“Quite a bit. I mean, A.J., he was the one guy on that fourth line that had some consistency to his play. There was the physicality that he brought. He was an energy guy in the room for us, for sure, and he’s chipped in offensively for us. So we’ll miss him, no doubt.”

As of Saturday morning, Greer was not yet on the injury reserve, but he would obviously be eligible to be placed on that list when the Flames require a roster spot. (Players on the “regular” injury reserve have to be miss a week, while players on the long-term injury reserve have to miss 24 days and 10 games; Greer’s absence would qualify him for both.)