When the Montreal Canadiens traded Tyler Toffoli to the Flames for a package that included a first-round draft selection, the other assets took a backseat in the eyes of fans.
That is until Emil Heineman, the prospect included in the trade, was able to get some action for fans to see highlights and read his statistics. Then before long, at the duration of Heineman’s campaign in the SHL with Leksands IF, he made his way over to North America to play in the American Hockey League with Laval.
Heineman wasted very little time asserting his offensive prowess. His shot stands out above all things, and seeing him whip the puck past pro goaltenders, to the tune of seven goals in 11 games, was rather impressive.
Certainly, the Canadiens have a plethora of forwards vying for an NHL roster spot, but it would be wise to include him in the mix.
Laval Rocket
After posting seven goals, and two assists for nine points through eleven games, Heineman showed just how powerful and accurate that his shot release is. I don’t believe that there is much to argue about whether or not he can produce at a solid pace with a bigger sample size. If he isn’t able to crack the Canadiens roster, I think he will certainly earn himself one of the first call-ups.
Now, if he doesn’t make it to the NHL, and plays his second season in North America, I think he could be a 50-60 point (25-30 goals, 30 assists) player. I feel he has all the assets to be a point producer, and he has a knack for getting lost in the offensive zone, before offloading a nasty one-timer. With the offensive tangibles he employs, it’s easy to picture him on Laval’s top power play.
Montreal Canadiens
While I believe that Heineman has the toolbox to earn himself a roster spot, the logjam of forwards poised to battle for their place could push him down the lineup. Should it happen that there’s only a fringe third line, more fourth line role that’s available for the taking, then Laval would be best. I don’t think it would be a lack of skill or speed, but perhaps his two-way game and time to add muscle would send him back down to Laval.
However, should he make the NHL, I think there are many great options for potential line-mates. Given his offensive game, NHL-caliber shot and fantastic skating, having a balanced line would be the best recipe to insulate him through his first few games. With that said, I can envision a line of Heineman, Monahan and Gallagher as the third line, providing a nice blend of smarts, grit and strong play in all three zones.
The end of summer NHL training camp will be one with intrigue, and Heineman could potentially flex his muscles on offence to provide some scoring depth for the Habs. Even if he ends up in Laval, expect him to earn a big role and prove he was a bigger piece of the trade than we initially expected.
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