Entering the offseason, Danton Heinen’s future in Boston was uncertain. The former fourth-round pick was a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration. The Bruins and Heinen, however, avoided the process by agreeing on a two-year extension.
Although Heinen is coming off a down year, for the Bruins his contract was an important part of the offseason. With the regular season slowly approaching, he will be looking to reward the organization’s faith.
Over the last two years, Heinen’s durability has been one of his key traits. After only appearing eight games during the 2016-2017 season, he has appeared in 77 each of the past two. During that time he has been moved up and down the lineup, but mostly appeared on the third line.
In Heinen’s first full “rookie” season he was a pleasant surprise recording 47 points. He also saw a lot of time on the power play, where he had 12 points, including two goals. Last year he was unable to replicate those numbers. His points total dropped to 30, and he made less of an impact on the man advantage. Despite the decreased production, Heinen is still one of the Bruins’ key pieces.
What makes Heinen so important is his style of play. The Denver product is always willing to block shots and battle in the corners. He can slot in anywhere in the lineup, which happened often last season. His responsible plays fit perfectly on the Bruins third line, which was one of their best by the end of the playoffs.
This upcoming season, Heinen will be looking to improve offensively. When the Bruins drafted him, he had a reputation as a scorer. In 81 career games for the University of Denver, he had 93 points. Although Heinen will never lead the Bruins in points, he can be better than he was last year.
With Charlie Coyle signed through next season Heinen will have a consistent linemate, unlike last season. That should improve his offensive numbers even though Marcus Johansson departed in free agency. The three formed a solid trio and were at their best in the postseason.
With Heinen’s future no longer uncertain, he will be looking to reward the Bruins trust. Although they have one of the best lines in hockey, secondary scoring was an issue last season. Confidence will also be key, as last year Heinen struggled mightily before being placed on the Bruins top line.
If Heinen can raise his game then the Bruins bottom lines will be even better. He has already shown that he affects the game in multiple ways. Next season will be his chance to prove that he can be an offensive force for a full season.
