Tag Archives: Danton Heinen

Who Will Be on the Bruins’ Third Line?

The Bruins will have many battles going on before the start of the regular season. One that will be interesting to watch is how the Bruins’ third line pans out. With the departures of Riley Nash and Tim Schaller in free agency, the Bruins have holes to fill. At the moment David Backes and Danton Heinen depending on who ends up on the second line are the only locks for the third line. The Bruins have many candidates for the last spot on the third line including Chris Wagner, Trent Frederic, and Jack Studnicka. All these players will be looking to make their case with the start of the season approaching.

The New Guy

Earlier this offseason the Bruins signed Chris Wagner to a two-year deal worth 1.25 million a year. Wagner is not the most offensively gifted and is seen as a better fit on the fourth line. He brings a bottom six versatility and could play center or on the wing. He relies on his physicality and intimidation. Wagner brings toughness to the Bruins’ bottom lines which would fit well on either the third or fourth line. In order to secure a spot on the third line, he will have to show more offensively. Of these three Wagner has the most secure spot on the Bruins’ roster the only question is where he will be placed in the lineup.

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Prospects Battling For the Third Line

Two players battling for the last spot are highly touted prospects. Between the two Frederic is closer to being NHL ready. The Bruins drafted Frederic in the first round of the 2016 NHL draft. He was seen as a reach at that spot due to his limited offensive ability. He will never be a thirty goal scorer but the Bruins still have high expectations for him. Frederic will most likely fill a defensive role while contributing a respectable amount of offense. Frederic will have to show that he is ready for the NHL as he has only played in 13 games at Providence. He will have to hold off another highly motivated Bruins prospect who is starting to make a name for himself.

The Bruins drafted Jack Studnicka in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft. Last season he played five games for Providence and was able to tally five points. He has the tools to be an elite scorer which was on display in the prospects challenge. He has more offensive upside than Frederic and is not afraid of standing up for his teammates. That will be key on the third line and his play has impressed the Bruins front office. In order to secure a spot he will have to continue to show his play-making ability. Even if he is sent back to Providence he has already left a good impression on the Bruins front office. He is a longshot to make the Bruins roster but he is not letting that hold him back.

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Final Thoughts

All of these players are battling for a single spot. Whoever does not win will end up in Providence or in Wagner’s case on the fourth line. They are each playing with a chip on their shoulder which will only make them better. For Studnicka and Frederic, it will give the Bruins a glimpse of what they can do. They will also be battling Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson who will looking to make the jump to the NHL but will most likely start the season in Providence. The Regular season is drawing closer but this battle is only getting started and it will have an impact on the Bruins’ future.

Follow me on Twitter: @JamieGatlin1217

Bruins Youth Movement Key To The Future

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Last season, the Boston Bruins were lead by their youth movement. Next season will be no different as the Bruins system is stacked for years to come. Last season saw the debuts of Ryan Donato, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Matt Gryzelcyk. All four players showed that they could play at the NHL level, which is partly why the Bruins have not been active on the trade front this offseason.

Returning to the playoffs next year will be no easy task. The Maple Leafs have improved, Tampa Bay is still very good, and the Florida Panthers could be a sleeper playoff team. The Bruins still have the one of the best young cores in the NHL, ready to lead them again next season.

Stanley Cup Core

The Bruins Stanley Cup core from 2011 still remains. They are not in their primes but have meshed perfectly with the Bruins young players. The Bruins top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron is one of the best lines in hockey. Bergeron battled injuries last season, but he is still one of the best centers in the league. Zdeno Chara is not the player he once was but he is the perfect mentor for young players, such as Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy. David Krejci battled injuries last year, but played well with Jake DeBrusk when healthy. What made the Bruins so good last season was how the veterans and young players came together.

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Bruins Youth Movement

The 2018-2019 season could see the debuts of more Bruins top prospects. That list includes Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Jakub Zboril, and Zach Senyshyn. All three players are on the Bruins roster and will be looking to make their case in camp. The Bruins will have Trent Frederic, Ryan Fitzgerald, Jack Studnicka, and Jeremy Lauzon in Providence. They still need more experience, but could be contributors at the NHL level in the near future.

The Bruins are not only set for years to come due to their depth in Providence. They have David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand under club control for the next five years on team friendly deals as well. They re-signed center Sean Kuraly this offseason to a three year deal worth $1.2 million per year. It will be hard for the Bruins to re-sign everyone especially starting next offseason. Both McAvoy and Brandon Carlo will be free agents. The McAvoy deal will be more expensive than Carlo, as no one else on the Bruins roster affects the game like McAvoy does. Danton Heinen and Ryan Donato who will also be restricted free agents at the end of next season.

Photo Credit: Amalie Benjamin NHL.com

Salary Cap

Donato and Heinen will not be as expensive to resign as McAvoy. Donato will most likely receive a “prove it” deal, similar to that of Matt Grzelcyk, as he will only have one full season of NHL experience. Jake DeBrusk won’t be a free agent until the 2020-2021 offseason, but he is already key to this team.

The Bruins will have to be creative to keep their young core together. Although it will not be easy, the Bruins have the advantage. Not every prospect will pan out and some could be used as trade chips. Don Sweeney has the one problem every GM only dreams of.

Making The Case: Heinen, Prospects On The Trade Block

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The Bruins may have missed out on the John Tavares sweepstakes, but they boast one of the deepest rosters in the NHL. In recent years, highly rated prospects such as Ryan Donato, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, and others have made their NHL debuts in Boston. As the Bruins roster for next season takes shape, many Bruins prospects will be looking to make their mark. There is not enough space for all of them, leaving Don Sweeney in a tough spot that many general managers wouldn’t mind being in. As the offseason progress, Sweeney may use some of these prospects to improve the roster.

Young Players To Deal

As the Bruins look to improve their roster, one player they should consider is Danton Heinen. He is coming off a solid rookie season in which he had 16 goals and 31 assists. He was very effective on the powerplay, as he had 12 points on the man advantage. Heinen is a good playe,r but his skill set is not overwhelming. If the Bruins were to deal him, they have prospects in Providence who could step up and fill the void. Three centers in particular who have high potential are Ryan Fitzgerald, Trent Frederic, and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson. The Bruins could also look to move one of these three depending on what trades come along.

Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins Prospects To Deal

Unlike Heinen, Peter Cehlarik has yet to stick on the Bruins roster. Over the last two seasons, the Bruins prospect has appeared in 17 games for Boston. In his limited time, he has scored one goal and recorded three assists. Cehlarik is one of the Bruins highly touted young players but depth has prevented him from gaining a permanent spot. Involving him in a trade package would be beneficial for the Bruins; he has yet to make a significant impact but still holds some value on the trade market.

Jeremy Lauzon, the twenty-one year old defenseman, is one of the most highly touted prospects in the Bruins system. He was selected by Boston in the second round of the 2015 NHL draft. He was seen as a puck moving defenseman, which would be a perfect fit for the Bruins roster. In 52 games for Providence last year, he had only one goal and six assists. While he still needs to improve his overall game, he is still one of the Bruins top prospects. The Bruins also have Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril in Providence, meaning the Bruins could deal from a position of strength.

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How Sweeney Will Handle These Prospects

So far this offseason, it seems as if general manager Don Sweeney is preparing for a deal. The Bruins will have 11 defenseman competing for six spots, among whom are Lauzon and Vaakanainen. If the Bruins want to acquire an impact piece, many of their young prospects could entice other teams into a blockbuster agreement. The offseason is young and these three Bruins prospects, among others, are likely to be in another organization by the time season begins.

Follow me for more ( @JamieGatlin1217) and look out for next week’s Making The Case

Danton Heinen’s Breakout Season

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The 2017-2018 season ended in disappointing fashion for the Boston Bruins. They surprised many finishing second in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind Tampa Bay. The talented young nucleus of the Bruins including players such as Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, and Danton Heinen carried the team. Next season the Bruins will expect more from these young players who are expected to form the next Bruins core.

Danton Heinen’s First Full season

When the 2017-2018 season campaign began Heinen was not on many people’s radars but that will not be the case going into next season.

The Bruins drafted Danton Heinen in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL draft. He made his debut in the 2016-2017 season, appearing in eight games. This past season he earned a more prominent role and spent the majority of the season on the Bruins third line. Due to injuries throughout the season, Heinen sometimes found himself on the Bruins first and second line. In seventy games Heinen scored 16 goals along with 31 assists, very effective on the power play recording twelve power play points. Heinen made the Bruins third line dangerous as he played alongside David Backes and Riley Nash, who had a career year. The rookie finished fourth on the Bruins in points, four ahead of fellow rookie Jake DeBrusk. The former fourth-round pick had a very productive regular season but the playoffs were a different story.

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Danton Heinen Struggles in the playoffs

Despite a solid rookie season Heinen was a non factor in the playoffs. In nine games he scored one goal and did not record an assist. In the second round Heinen was a healthy scratch for game four as the Bruins tried to find a spark for their dormant offense. It was a playoff run to forget and one that will motivate Heinen next season. Despite his playoff struggles Heinen still had a impressive rookie season that not many did not see coming.

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What To Expect Next Season

Heinen is not a player who will score thirty goals like Marchand or Pastrnak . The Bruins do not need him to be that type of player. Heinen showed last year that he can contribute in different ways. He is not selfish with the puck as his thirty one assists were the fourth highest on the team. Heinen gives the Bruins a dangerous third-line center who is also very productive on the power play. Like many of the other Bruins players, Heinen will be motivated after a disappointing ending to the 2017- 2018 season. If he can build on his rookie season than the Bruins third line will again be a threat.

Don’t Forget About Danton Heinen

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The Fountain of Youth

One of the main stories of the 2017-18 season has been the success of this year’s rookie class. Highlighted by Matt Barzal, Brock Boeser, Clayton Keller, and Bruins’ own Charlie McAvoy, it’s clear that the Calder race is in full effect. Anybody in the hockey world would tell you that one of those four players is bound to win the award.

But let’s not forget about Danton Heinen. This guy is the unsung hero of the Boston Bruins yet caught in the shadow of this year’s rookie class. Heinen played for two years at the University of Denver after being selected by the B’s in the fourth round of the 2014 Draft. After putting up 93 points in just two seasons, he decided to turn pro. Following a solid 2016-17 season in Providence, Heinen was one of the last players cut at this years training camp. Subsequently he responded by racking up eight points in Providence’s first four games, and quickly got the call.

Heinen’s Effect

Since then, Heinen has made a home for himself in the NHL. He has notched 31 points through 40 games. Initially, coach Bruce Cassidy called Heinen up in hopes of him adding tenacity to the lineup. He said that he saw a “willingness to stay in the battle” that Heinen didn’t have in his earlier years as a prospect. He continued to mention it was particularly his “growth when it comes to winning pucks” that caught the eye of the coaching staff. This was originally the aspect of Heinen’s game that took the most criticism, even being pointed out by TSN.ca.

But his improvement in this area is what ultimately convinced the coaching staff that he was capable of playing a bottom six role in the NHL. And clearly he hasn’t wasted the opportunity to prove his worth. He’s developed his game even further. Whether it was thanks to supplements like clenbuterol, or a great exercise regimen, he is now playing left wing on the third line with veterans Riley Nash and David Backes. In addition to the stat line, Heinen has also improved his game in the D-zone. This is evident in his +10 rating at the midway point of the season.

Unfortunately for Heinen, the ridiculous numbers that have been put up by Matt Barzal (16-33-49) and Brock Boeser (22-19-41) put the Calder trophy out of reach. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s gone above and beyond for the B’s this season. He and Charlie McAvoy are currently leading the youth movement that has propelled the Bruins all season. Time will tell if Heinen can continue to keep his play at such a high level.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Cover photo courtesy of chowderandchampions.com.

An Unlikely Superstar for the Black and Gold

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A look at the rapid rise of Danton Heinen: one of the hottest young studs of the Boston Bruins

A Rough Start

Early on in the Boston Bruins training camp, there was talk about the upcoming first-year guys. Players like Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, and Charlie Mcavoy were creating a buzz. But for Danton Heinen, his star was starting to slowly (and quietly) shine brightly.

The 22-year-old British Columbia native has no doubt made an impressive impact so far this season. He started out his career playing eight games before being sent down to Providence. After honing his skills in the AHL, Heinen has now become an integral part of the surge of young players. The best part of watching this team is how a player like Heinen has flown under the radar to only emerge as a top player for the black and gold.

A Call to Arms

While the Boston Bruins were plagued early on with injuries, Coach Bruce Cassidy had no other choice than to look to the “young guns” to stay competitive in the Atlantic Division. After starting the year in Providence, Heinen has quietly become a player that can complement any line. As of late, the Backes, Nash, and Heinen line have not only produced points with goals and assists. They have shown what this team is about; playing smart and winning battles- all without brute strength. Gone from the Bruins’ playing style is the Claude Julien method of dump and chase. What they have now is a team full of players that continue to grind out smart plays with a solid defense. Guys like Heinen have stepped up in every capacity and produce on whatever line Bruce Cassidy places him on. Cassidy commented on his player’s success, saying:

“Danton has really grown his game, to be able to play with different flavors, or attributes, of different forwards”

In the last 34 games Danton Heinen has scored 10 goals, with 18 assists and 28 points. The 6’1″ forward is now third on the roster for points, right behind Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Not bad for a first-year player.

A Look Ahead

The Boston Bruins are in a good spot right now: a healthy team that is a productive mixture of first-year guys and veterans. The thing that stands out about this team is how well the players compliment each other. David Backes credits players Danton Heinen and Riley Nash in helping to improve his game on the ice since returning from surgery. Not only has Heinen been there for those important rebounds, his playing style is that of good, solid puck control, keeping the play alive and winning those crucial battles on the ice. And since coming back up from Providence after that rough start, Heinen has not wasted any time in getting those winning shot on goal. The Boston Bruins are now bouncing between being 2nd and 3rd in the Atlantic Division with a good amount of points ahead of the fourth-place team (currently Florida).

While the Bruins continue to outsmart and outplay other teams, there’s no question that for someone like Danton Heinen, having a good player attitude will only lead this team down the road of quickly becoming serious contenders for the Stanley Cup.

Bruins Fall To Preds Despite a Big Third Period

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The Bruins fell to the red-hot Nashville Predators on Monday night despite a big third-period push.

Tough Start

The Bruins were back in action on Monday night in Nashville where they fell to the Predators 5-3. The Predators scored the first goal of the game just 1:26 seconds into the contest, then again late in the first to lead 2-0. The Predators scored two more in the second period to go up 4-0. The Bruins struck back in the second with a power-play goal coming off a perfect shot from Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins trailed 4-1 after two periods. In the third the Bruins came out strong, and it paid off. Captain Zdeno Chara scored for the Bruins to get his team within two.

Then, just over a minute later, David Pastrnak Scored to make it 4-3 and a brand new game. Bruins fans had hope. Then less than a minute after Pasta’s marker, Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored on a breakaway to make it 5-3. The Bruins showed up to little to late in this one.

Goaltending Situation

Bruins goalie Anton Khudobin started the game but was lit up early. Dobby gave up four goals on 14 shots. It appears the red-hot Khudobin could riding the pine after this one. Tuukka Rask came into the cage after the Predators fourth goal. Rask only faced 11 shots and made 10 saves. The Bruins should run with Rask at this point. He’s beaten the best team in the league in Tampa Bay, and recorded a shutout against the Flyers in recent days. Rask looks like the Rask of old, the one all Bruins fans love. Winning games, making big saves, and playing with confidence. Exactly why the Bruins need to roll with Rask from now on.

Comments

”Digging yourself a 4-0 deficit is certainly not a good recipe for winning games. The second half of the game was much better, but it was too little, too late. We need to start on time” said Bruins forward David Backes. Marchand also had some comments on the game. “The Predators are pretty deep, they play hard, but they didn’t really deserve a lot. We just kind of gave it to them. It’s tough to lose like that. We did a good job of pushing back and making it a game, but we need wins.”

Bruins Need Secondary Scoring

The Bruins top line, McAvoy, Chara and Pastranak, scored all three goals. If the Bruins want to win hockey games, it will take more than one line to score all the goals. The Bruins need players like Krejci, Backes, Spooner, and Anders Bjork to contribute on the score sheet on a regular basis. Bruins rookie Danton Heinen has quietly put up points, proving that he can contribute on offense. Heinen picked up an assist on McAvoy’s power play goal in the second, giving him nine assists on the year for a total of 14 points.

Home Stand

The Bruins will play five of their next six games at home, starting Thursday against the Coyotes, then Saturday against the Islanders. After that, they travel to Detroit for a Wednesday face off, then again at home Thursday against the Capitals. Then the Bruins will close out their home stand with games against the Rangers and Blue Jackets.

Bruins Exit Weekend With Two of Four Points

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The Bruins looked solid on Saturday night in the desert with a 6-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes. The same can’t be said for the Bruins on Sunday as the Boston fell to the Golden Knights 3-1. The Bruins are off until Thursday when they take the ice in Boston to host the Vancouver Canucks.

Saturday in Arizona

The Bruins really impressed on Saturday night skating to a 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Rookie Anders Bjork recorded his first career NHL goal. Jake DeBrusk scored his second of the season and added an assist in the game. Some more noticeable Bruins on Saturday included Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Tim Schaller, and Danton Heinen. The most outstanding Bruin on the night was captain Zdeno Chara. Registering his first goal of the season in the second period, Chara added two helpers. Marchand scored a nifty backhand goal off a slick pass from David Pastrnak., who also added an assist in the game. Tim Schaller scored for the second straight game for the Bruins. Recent call up Danton Heinen got credit for two assists.

Dobby impresses

Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin got the start on Saturday night and played well enough to earn his first win of the season. Khudobin stopped 29 of 31 shots he faced against the struggling Coyotes. The Bruins needed Khudobin to step up for them with starter Tuukka Rask struggling, and he certainly did. With the Bruins wanting to rest Rask longer more this season, Khudobin will have to win some games. He has proven he is the man for the job after watching him this preseason, and in this game.

”The ‘W’ is always great. No matter what the score, whether it’s 8-6 or 9-7. If you win then you win. Nobody talks about losers. Everybody talks about winners, right?” said Khudobin. “If you win, then you’re on the horse, and if you don’t then you’re under it. It’s great to get one at the start of the season, and so now hopefully it’s not going to roll like it did last year.”

Sunday in Vegas

The Bruins had a disappointing game on Sunday as they fell to the leagues newest team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Bruins managed to get only 23 shots on their old teammate Malcolm Subban. If the Bruins want to win games they will need to generate more shots on net. They must stop being so fancy all the time and just keep it simple to get those greasy goals. If the Bruins focus more on this, they will score more goals and win more hockey games. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask played fairly well in the game by stopping 23 of 25 shots that he faced.

The Bruins lone goal scorer on Sunday was David Pastrnak, who banked the puck off the Vegas defender in the final minute of the game. Brad Marchand who continues to put up points assisted Pastrnak’s goal. Rookie Charlie McAvoy also got an assist on the goal as well which now gives him assists in the last two games.

Injuries

The Bruins lost Ryan Spooner and Adam Mcquaid on Sunday due to injuries. I am unsure what happened to Spooner, but he is out with a lower body injury. Mcquaid, took a slap shot from ex-eammate Colin Miller off the side of his leg which didn’t look pretty.

Whats next?

The Bruins get four days off before their next match up at home against the Vancouver Canucks. If the Bruins want to make it to the postseason again this year, they have to improve — fast. They won’t make the playoffs as a 500 team. They need to put up points and do it now. Boston may get a boost to their lineup on Thursday with Patrice Bergeron close to returning. I really hope Bergy gets back on the ice soon as a very important player on this team.

Bruins Look to Bounce Back Tonight

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The Bruins hope to bounce back tonight in Colorado after a disappointing matinee Monday and play the way they did in their season opener against the Nashville Predators.

Bruins Sign white to PTO

The Bruins made a couple of minor transactions on Tuesday. One includes the signing of ex-Montreal Canadian tough guy Ryan White to a PTO. White could bring some grit and toughness to the Bruins’ young and speedy forward group. White has quite the resume in the NHL, playing for the Montreal Canadians, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, and the Minnesota Wild. He hopes the Bruins are his next destination. “I play my game wherever I go,” said White. ”I’m probably here for a reason — just to play physical, straight up and down, north-south game, and chip in when I can. It’s pretty self-explanatory the way I play, and I can’t change it now.”

Coaches and Players Comments

Brad Marchand had some kind words on White when speaking to the media on Tuesday. “He’s a very competitive guy, very hard to play against, and a really good player,” Bruins winger Brad Marchand said of White. “He’s one of those guys you don’t want to play against, but you love to have him on your team. Very good locker room guy, and he’s the kind of guy you need on your team to go deep in the playoffs.”

Head Coach Bruce Cassidy also had some things to say about White’s game play. “We’ve lost David Backes and Noel Acciari on the right side. We know what they can give us every night; They give us straight-line play, they’re gonna be physical, they’re going to get to the net. We’ve lost that element.” When asked about White’s potential addition to the B’s, Cassidy added, “They might not be sexy players, but Ryan White has a history of playing that way. He was available for a look, and we’re gonna look.”

Although the Bruins have a ton of young players down in Providence, they could really benefit from having a guy like White on their roster. He’s the type of player that’ll look out for all the young players. White could also score the odd goal or two for them while being used in a bottom-six role.

Heinen Recalled

Signing White to a PTO wasn’t the Bruins only transaction on Tuesday. With the Bruins prospect pool overflowing with young talent, forward Danton Heinen was the chosen one getting the call from from the Bruins on Tuesday

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after recording an assist for Providence in their first game of the season. Heinen skated in 64 games for Providence last season. He recorded 14 goals and 30 assists for a total of 44 points in his first full season in the Bruins organization. Heinen has shown he can score at the AHL level and he’s being given a chance to do the same with the Bruins. Heinen has grown a lot as a player in the last year, and hopefully it continues for him and of course with the other youngsters as well.

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