Emil Heineman had an interesting first season in the NHL. His first season in North America was a good start in 2023-24, as he recorded 29 points in 48 AHL games and also played four games in the NHL. Heineman entered training camp with a clear goal of making the Montreal Canadiens, but most thought he'd need another year in Laval.
Heineman stole a roster spot and then outdueled Oliver Kapanen to stay in the lineup once Patrik Laine returned. He would've played every game for the Canadiens the rest of the way, but fell victim to a freak accident mid-way through the season when he was struck by a car in Utah.
Heineman missed 20 games but still managed 10 goals and eight assists. He spent most of his time in the bottom-six and showed the Habs' brass that he could be a valuable complementary piece in the future. His play this season earned him a chance to represent his country for the first time at the World Championships, and he won a bronze medal.
The host Swedes had the chance to do something special after they defeated Czechia 5-2 in the quarter-finals. The other side of the bracket was looking good with Switzerland and Denmark on the other side, but they might've looked too far past their opponents as the United States dominated them for a 6-2 victory.
Sweden flipped the script and beat Denmark 6-2 in the bronze medal game, but it wasn't the outcome they really wanted. Heineman tallied an assist and was a +2 in the game, increasing his point total to three in 10 games.
It wasn't the result Sweden wanted, but the players were still able to end their season on a winning note. The performance of Heineman also showed the Canadiens what they really wanted to know: that Heineman can play a certain role on a winning team. They already discovered that this season, but doing it on this stage against some of the world's top players is another feather in his cap.