The impact Emil Heineman can have is being noticed, and Maxim Lapierre talked about that right here on the Sick Podcast Network
Maxim Lapierre thinks Emil Heineman has something special!@Lappy14: "He's got something special that kid and I want to see him for a long time with a real chance … I see a little bit of Lehkonen in Heineman"#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/Y3X7JVNoLK
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) November 28, 2024
Heineman is not the flashiest player on the team, he doesn’t bring anything “special” like Lane Hutson’s elusive skating or Cole Caufield’s amazing shot, but he plays a simple, very strong 200-foot game. He does have good size, the Swedish-born forward is 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, which allows him the leverage to be difficult along the boards. He also boasts excellent speed, making him a menace on the forecheck. Offensively, he uses his size, strength and solid puck protection skills to get into dangerous spots and create scoring opportunities for himself.
Quel but ! Emil Heineman donne les devants aux Canadiens 🔵⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/t2SMLqVdtr
— RDS (@RDSca) November 28, 2024
He can also play either wing position, and while his scoring abilities are still developing at the NHL level, he has been a solid defensive forward who has provided consistent effort on every shift. He can bring a physical edge, not only to the forecheck but in 1-on-1 puck battles along the boards. His positioning on the defensive side of the puck has been very good. He has consistently been in the right position, filling passing lanes to break up plays, or angling opponents to the outside on the backcheck. He also makes himself a safe outlet for a breakout, which helps the transition game especially when he can use his speed to carry the puck up ice.
He is second on the team in possession metrics with a 51.3% Corsi For percentage and is only one of five players above 50% with that metric. He is also unafraid to play a physical style, especially on the forecheck, as he is tied for the team lead in hits with 59. For Canadiens skaters who had played 200 minutes or over he is top 5 among forwards in blocked shots and takeaways. He has the least giveaways on the team, which makes sense considering his positive CF%. Offensively he only has four goals in 22 games played, but with an average of only 10 minutes of ice time per game, he hasn’t had enough opportunity to provide more as he does have a rate of 0.86 goals per 60 minutes and 1.12 points per 60. It may seem like that level of production could be a mirage but the player is a shooter, firing 5.6 shots per 60 and is second on the team behind only Cole Caufield with 14 shot attempts per 60. At these rates, given more ice time, Heineman could produce well offensively.
Heineman’s skills complement more talented linemates very well. His speed, his mature defensive game and untapped offensive skills make him a very good candidate for use higher in the lineup. There are hints that he is close to being used up the lineup soon. His time on ice per game has begun to move up over the last number of games, creeping up to over 14 minutes more than once. He’s been effective in his two-way role and seems to be earning the coaching staff’s trust. This is evidenced by the fact that when Rafael Harvey-Pinard returned from his conditioning stint in Laval, instead of sending Heineman down to the AHL because he is waiver exempt, Kent Hughes chose to place RHP on waivers to keep the young Swede in the lineup.
Les Canadiens ont soumis l’attaquant Rafaël Harvey-Pinard au ballottage dans le but de le céder au Rocket de Laval.
The Canadiens have placed forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard on waivers for the purpose of a loan to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/7z1D1fC9cQ
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 30, 2024
Since the departure of Artturi Lehkonen to Colorado, Montreal has been in search of that reliable two-way forward that can play up and down the lineup, a Swiss-army knife type of player. Emil Heineman’s play so far has shown a capability to fill that type of role. He hasn’t gotten the opportunity to do so yet, but the choice to waive a more veteran player to keep him in the lineup is a sign that his opportunity is coming soon. He has proven he deserves a larger role, and in a rebuild, it’s the best time to test the young players.
