However, the 21-year-old left winger immediately had a significant impact on the performance of the Laval Rocket at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Upon his arrival with the Canadiens' farm team, Heineman established himself as a frontline forward, scoring a goal in seven consecutive games. He eventually finished the year with a haul of nine points in eleven games in the AHL.
Not bad for a player playing his first games in North America!
Moreover, in an interview with the excellent Anthony Martineau, Heineman admitted that he had spent most of his summer training to be at the top of his game when the preseason games begin. Furthermore, when asked if he believed in his chances of making Martin St. Louis' lineup, the Canadiens' prospect gave a short answer that says a lot about his intentions.
Wow! Clearly, the youngster is very confident in his abilities, and we love to see that!
Even if the Canadiens' offense is already well-stocked, it will be very interesting to follow his performance during training camp. He could very well force the organization's hand to grant him a position in the NHL as early as this season. One thing is for sure, the man in question is convinced he has the talent to shine in the National Hockey League.
Personally, I would much rather see Emil Heineman in Martin St. Louis' lineup than Joel Armia, who simply no longer seems willing to put in the necessary effort to keep his place in the NHL. Could the rise of the Finn force Kent Hughes to submit Armia to waivers?
This will be a case to watch closely in the coming weeks!
POLL | ||
Do you believe that Emil Heineman deserves a position in the NHL this season? | ||
Yes | 58 | 54.2 % |
No | 49 | 45.8 % |
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