Jets training camp a fresh start for Heinola

Ville Heinola fully recognizes what is at stake for him.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman has been around long enough to know that he’s clearly at a crossroads as he works his way through training camp.

Although he’s not that far removed from being a front-runner to becoming a third-pairing regular, a series of injuries opened the doors for others to leapfrog him on the organizational depth chart.

Now that he’s back to full health, Heinola is aiming to get back to the player he was before a freak ankle injury in the final exhibition game of 2023 impeded his progress and has basically been a hindrance ever since.

“I’m trying to go into training camp without thinking about anything, I’m just trying to go out there and play,” Heinola said before suiting up in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Edmonton Oilers. “Obviously, you guys know I’ve missed a lot of games in the last couple of years. My main focus is that I just want to play hockey and enjoy it. It’s been a tough couple of years. Now I’m 100 per cent healthy again, so I just want to enjoy it.”

Heinola hasn’t been able to feel a lot of enjoyment during the past several seasons.

When you feel you’re on the verge of a major breakthrough in your career and that’s suddenly taken away from you, it’s difficult not to let negative thoughts creep in, even when you’re on the road to recovery.

Heinola has done an excellent job of trying to stay positive and maintaining his belief.

“I’m not going to lie. There’s times where you’re going through some things in your head but, for me, I’m just waiting for my opportunity,” said Heinola. “I haven’t gotten a really good opportunity yet and I feel like if I can get the opportunity, I know I can play there. I know I can do well, so I’m not really stressed about it. Because I know, if I get the chance, if I just get to play, I will show these guys that I am ready.”

In order to show that he’s ready, Heinola is going to have to outplay a number of players who received regular playing time during the past several seasons.

With nine defencemen on one-way contracts, prospect Elias Salomonsson knocking on the door and Kale Clague bringing nearly 100 games of NHL experience into the fold after signing as a free agent, the competition on the back end is fierce.

“I mean there’s not much you can do about it,” said Heinola. “If you don’t play well, there’s always a guy that’s going to come up, so it doesn’t really matter how much (competition) there is. I’m just focused on my own thing.”

Heinola arrived at training camp last fall and was considered a strong candidate to win a job alongside Colin Miller on the Jets’ third pairing.

But an issue related to the ankle injury he suffered in October of 2023 resurfaced and the fact of the matter is that Heinola never found his footing, even after he received the green light to return to action.

Heinola got back into games in late November after a two-game conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League but he couldn’t make up for lost time and was limited to just two contests after Jan. 16 — including the regular-season finale.

“I mean, yeah, it’s definitely tough to go back when you missed training camp and everything as a young guy,” said Heinola, who has one goal and 12 points in 53 NHL games. “When you’re out for half the year, it’s tough to find your place after that in a team. Last year, it hit me hard when the injury happened. It was more tough for me mentally, going through it again and just knowing the rehab and knowing how long it takes.

“I was in a dark place for a couple of months there. Now this summer, everything went well. The body feels great. The ankle feels great. It’s such a relief and I just want to enjoy hockey now.”

Heinola — who also dealt with a shoulder injury late last season — may be in a precarious position, but there’s another interesting element at play when it comes to his future.

Not only is he no longer exempt from waivers, but Heinola must appear in 27 NHL games this season or else he will become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent.

Given his status as a first round pick (20th overall) back in 2019, Heinola is someone who could attract attention on the waiver wire — both from teams closer to the bottom of the standings but also potentially from some cap-strapped contenders who could see value in the one-year deal at US$800,000.

Heinola, 24, is eager for an opportunity, but he’s not dreaming about that coming with another organization at this point and time.

“For me, I try not to think about those things at all,” said Heinola, who was limited to 20 games last season, including 18 with the Jets. “I just want to play my game and be as good as I can and hopefully make very hard decisions for those guys who are making the calls there.”

One of those guys with plenty of influence on the outcome is Jets head coach Scott Arniel, who once called himself Heinola’s biggest fan.

“We talked about it a lot last year, but he missed all of training camp. In this one, he gets a fresh start,” said Arniel. “At the end of the day, everybody is fighting for jobs. You can’t control anything but to go out and do your best. That’s what he needs to do.”

Heinola missed out on a lot of on-ice reps during the past two seasons, but he wasn’t just a casual observer during the time he was sidelined.

“When I was hurt, I watched a lot of hockey and I felt like that really helped me a lot, too,” said Heinola. “I wasn’t just hanging around there, I was trying to take everything in. There were a lot of good examples from guys like Josh (Morrissey), who kind of plays the game in a (similar) style as me. So, I was just trying to learn and watch those guys as much as I can and take little things out of it.”

There are times when it feels like a lot of time has passed since he’s been at his best, Heinola firmly believes his best hockey is ahead of him.

“I look back a couple of years when I played great at training camp,” said Heinola. “Just kind of find that rhythm again and get my legs underneath me. Just use my skating and be strong in the D-zone and move the puck well. Those are probably the biggest parts of my game and I just want to do that well.”

After the arrival of Gustav Nyquist in free agency this summer, Heinola gave up his No. 14 to the veteran forward and has since switched to No. 34.

What did Heinola get in return?

“I haven’t gotten anything yet, but he said there will be something coming,” said Heinola. “So hopefully, it’s something nice.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld