Montreal Canadiens: Emil Heineman Has Golden Opportunity To Make Habs

The Montreal Canadiens entered training camp with a lot of the same faces in place.

There were no coaching or managerial changes that were significant in the offseason, and some minor roster tinkering took place but nothing substantial.

Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick were traded but they were not expected to play big roles this season anyway. Jonathan Drouin and Denis Gurianov left as free agents but they were not huge factors in last year’s on ice product anyway.

While the lack of roster shuffling meant we kind of know what to expect when it comes to the 2023-24 lineup. There will be no surprises at who makes the team down the middle with Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Sean Monahan and Jake Evans sure to grab those spots. However, there is one huge spot up for grabs and it is on the top line.

Suzuki and Cole Caufield have formed quite the duo over the past three seasons. They proved last season to be a legit top line threat, but never found the perfect complement to complete the trio. Dach, Monahan, and Josh Anderson all got looks on the top line but none were permanent fixtures.

Dach eventually moved back to center and Monahan and Anderson suffered injuries that stalled their effectiveness on the line. So, the team came in to training camp looking for a permanent member of the first line.

Surprisingly, it has been Emil Heineman that started training camp on the first line.

The 21 year old is yet to make his NHL debut, and has barely played in North America, but he began training camp skating alongside Suzuki and Caufield. Heineman, a Swedish winger does have the tools to become a dangerous player, but is he ready for a prime time role right now?

He played the past three seasons in Sweden’s top league, where he consistently averaged about half of a point per game each of the past two seasons. He then arrived in Laval at the end of last season and played 11 games with the Rocket. He would score seven goals and nine points in that time, showing some offensive touch right away.

Heineman is a 6’2″ and 194 pound winger with good speed and a terrific shot. Acquired from the Calgary Flames as part of the Tyler Toffoli trade in the 2021-22 season, Heineman contains an enticing package of size and skill, but it was expected he would continue to develop with the Rocket this season.

Seeing him on the top line with Suzuki and Caufield was a bit of a surprise, but why not give him a chance? He has the speed and size to create havoc and turnovers on the forecheck, and a blazing shot that has fooled goaltenders at every level he has played.

It will be interesting to see Heineman play a couple of preseason games on this line to see if he is ready to handle NHL competition. He has been playing pro since he was 18 so it should not shock us if he looks comfortable in NHL exhibition games.

From there? Will he be able to translate this opportunity from day one of training camp into Game 1 of the regular season? We will have to wait and see, but he fits the profile of a power forward that may just turn out to be an excellent complement to the Habs two best offensive players.

Want your voice heard? Join the A Winning Habit team!

Write for us!