Young forward Emil Heineman has wasted no time in making his mark on the Montreal Canadiens lineup this season. Despite spending most of last season with the Laval Rocket in the AHL, the 22-year-old Swede has already caught the eye of his teammates and coaches in just one week of NHL action.
In an interview with TSN 690, Heineman shared his approach to making the jump to the big leagues this year, emphasizing the importance of seizing the opportunity presented to him. “Mostly just don’t sit and wait out there,” he said, reflecting on his mindset heading into training camp. “This time, I felt like I went out in camp and really gave it a good shot. I was really going to take this one and see where it took me, pretty much. I felt like I was more aggressive out there.”
Known for his speed, shot, and ability to win puck battles, Heineman has endeared himself to his teammates with his aggressive play on the ice. His chemistry with centre Christian Dvorak and right winger Oliver Kapanen on the fourth line has been evident in the early stages of the season.
After netting his first NHL goal in a victory over the Ottawa Senators, Heineman continued to impress with another goal in a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The young forward’s performance has not gone unnoticed by his teammates, who have celebrated his success with him. “All the guys were happy,” Heineman said of his teammates’ reaction to his goal-scoring outburst. “We were just laughing about it.”
Heineman’s rapid adaptation to the NHL game has been a pleasant surprise for the Canadiens organization. With only four total appearances for the team last season, the young forward has embraced his increased role and is making the most of his opportunity to contribute to the team’s success.
As the Canadiens gear up to face the Los Angeles Kings, Heineman’s early-season success has not gone unnoticed. His determination and work ethic have set a positive tone for the team as they look to build on their early-season momentum. “Still [making] adjustments to the league and it has been fun,” Heineman said, reflecting on his first week as a full-fledged member of the Montreal Canadiens roster.