Golden Knights fans won’t have to look far to find the interesting name in the defense mix this preseason: Ville Heinola.
Vegas’ blue line already has a crowded feel to it. Rasmus Andersson and Jeremy Lauzon are in the extended group, Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore remain part of the old guard, Noah Hanifin brings Olympic gold to the table, and Parker Wotherspoon is in the picture as well. Dylan Coghlan is back too, carrying a $875,000 salary cap hit over the next two years.
And then there’s Heinola, the Finnish defenseman who probably isn’t the first name most fans would circle. He’s a former 2019 first-round NHL Draft pick who played in Finland’s Liiga as a 17-year-old, and he has logged six NHL seasons without much offense to show for it - one goal and 11 assists in 58 career games.
His real work has come with the Manitoba Moose. Over eight seasons and 198 AHL games, Heinola has put up 26 goals and 98 assists, and that puck-moving profile is exactly why he stands out as a potential option if the Henderson Silver Knights need help on the back end.
The bigger question is whether that skill set translates into a real shot with Vegas. Right now, the path looks steep. On paper, Heinola does not appear to have much of a chance to crack the Golden Knights’ defense group for the upcoming season, and his best opening would seem to come if Parker Wotherspoon quickly falls out of favor - something that does not look likely.
There are also clear flaws in his game. Heinola is not the most reliable stick-handler and can be stripped of the puck too easily, which can lead to odd-man rushes going the other way. At 25, he also isn’t considered especially strong in his own zone.
Still, the appeal is obvious enough. Heinola is a smart offensive defender who reads the ice well, skates well, and can eat minutes. In a system that values movement and pace, that combination gives him a real case to make.
Calder Cup playoffs.
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