Curtain rises on NHL play for Heinola

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This article was published 03/10/2019 (2170 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — First, Ville Heinola got the talk from Paul Maurice, the one he gives all players making their NHL debuts.

“The piece that I’ll share is if you’ve got kids and you’re at the game or you’re watching it on TV and we bring the families in — as excited as you are on that bench or on that blue line, there are people that are actually more excited (for you). So I encourage them to call their parents. To call your parents and say thanks,’’ the Winnipeg Jets head coach said Thursday.

“You don’t have to get to everybody, but there are a whole lot of people in the world that are so excited that you’re excited that you’re playing your first NHL game. They are even more excited than you are. Take some time to think about them, and if you get a chance, make sure you thank them.”

A few hours later, Heinola got the traditional “hot lap” at Madison Square Garden, the customary solo twirl for pre-game warmup while his teammates watched.

“We’ve all had our NHL debuts, so for a young guy like him to come into Madison Square Garden, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better stage. It’s going to be a lot of fun. He’s a heck of a player, he’s going to be a good player for a long time, so this is just the start,” said defencemen Neal Pionk, who was paired with Heinola.

If you thought any of it rattled the kid, just 18 and only a few months removed from being drafted 20th overall by the Jets, well, think again. Smiles, sure. Nerves, a few. But no sense of being overwhelmed on such a big stage.

“When I was a young boy, I was dreaming about this. And now it has come true, so (there are) awesome feelings,” Heinola said prior to puck drop, admitting he didn’t expect all of this to happen so quickly. 

“I was thinking maybe two or three years. But now it’s coming, so it’s an awesome thing. When I came to camp, I didn’t expect anything. I just came to play hockey and things have gone well, so that’s awesome,” said Heinola.

The raw rookie was credited with an assist, a shot on goal, one hit, one takeaway and four giveaways in 18:24 of ice time.

Heinola impressed during camp. Injuries to Sami Niku and Nathan Beaulieu and the absence of Dustin Byfuglien contributed to the opportunity. But it was his play in pre-season games that warranted a longer look.

“He’s picked up on the systems really, really quickly and he’s figured out at least the Winnipeg Jets players. Blake Wheeler, you play differently than you play Nik Ehlers. Those kinds of adjustments — and you can see them in his game — are really, really quick and I didn’t expect that,” Maurice said.

“So, the video I watched after drafting him and bringing him into camp, some of the reports were — I don’t want to say that they questioned his skating — but they said that for a smaller guy, he’s not real fast, except he’s figured that out and he is quick. He’s been able to change his game. And then, I guess the last thing, like all of those special offensive defenceman, he does everything with his head up. He can move sideways with the puck on his stick and his head up and see the entire ice.”

Patrik Laine gave his fellow Finn a pep talk prior to the game. 

“Hopefully, he’s not too nervous. I’ve been talking to him about it already. You’re only gonna play your first game once. There’s no better place to play your first game than here,” Laine said. “He’s got to play his own game, he’s got to enjoy it.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg