The common hockey fan might downplay the effect of a fourth-liner on their team's lineup. However, the Montreal Canadiens fanbase should know better than anyone that Emil Heineman has been a vital part of the team's success this season. Montreal might be on the outside looking in of the playoff picture, but the statistics show it could be much worse if Heineman wasn't a regular in the lineup. He might be a rookie, but his impact has been felt in more ways than one.
Heineman was out of the lineup for a significant amount of time after an off-ice incident in Utah on a roadtrip. The report was that Heineman was hit by a vehicle while walking down the street, which caused an upper-body injury. He returned in the first game after the Four Nations Faceoff break and the team is 4-0 since then. It'd be easy to say it wasn't because of Heineman's return but just the reset from the break, but it's hard to ignore the Canadiens' record with and without him this season.
In their last 30 games, the Canadiens are 18-10-2. They are 13-2-1 with Emil Heineman in the lineup, and 5-8-1 without him. Catch our latest @sickpodnhldraft at noon today as we feature clips on Florian Xhakej, Reinbacher and Demidov. Ivan had several spectacular plays. pic.twitter.com/hIp1kxTAcb
— Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) March 3, 2025
It's quite a stat from Grant McCagg on X, showing that much of the credit for the Canadiens' success could go to Heineman. The Canadiens are 13-2-1 in Heineman's last 16 games in the lineup, while they are 5-8-1 in the games he missed due to the upper-body ailment. He isn't the most significant contributor offensively, but his presence gives the Canadiens some more depth down the lineup.
Heineman also helps the Canadiens form one of the best fourth-lines in hockey. Heineman, Jake Evans, and Joel Armia have been a massive success story, and the Habs will be sad to see the line vanish if they go ahead with trading Evans and Armia at the trade deadline. However, they can take solace in Heineman being around in Montreal for a long time.
It's difficult to say whether Heineman can continue the success without Evans and Armia, but the Canadiens will be happy to know they can depend on him in the right situation. There are plenty of potential fourth-liners in the system that can serve the same purpose, and there should be no panic of whether they can find the right fit with Heineman.