Canadiens ahead Emil Heineman suffered an upper-body damage on Monday when he was struck by a automobile in Salt Lake Metropolis, the team said in a statement. Because of this, he’ll be sidelined from recreation motion for 3 to 4 weeks.
Montreal provided no other details on the 23-year-old’s condition, but thankfully, the news isn’t any worse than it is. That brief return timeline suggests that his injuries may not have required surgery — if he did, it was likely minor.
A 2020 second-rounder by the Panthers, he was traded to the Flames in the 2021 Sam Bennett commerce and once more to Montreal in 2022 as a part of the return for Tyler Toffoli. After a four-game trial with the Habs final season, he’s cracked the roster in earnest in 2024-25 and is tied for eighth on the staff in scoring with 17 factors (10 G, 7 A) by means of 41 video games.
Heineman managed that manufacturing regardless of averaging 10:06 per recreation at even power, which is the least of any Habs common. He’s acquired some fringe power-play utilization however has been handiest because the left wing on one of many league’s handiest fourth traces this season with Jake Evans and Joel Armia, who management 56.9% of anticipated objectives when used collectively at 5-on-5, per MoneyPuck.
The 6-foot, 202-lb Heineman has additionally been Montreal’s most bodily skater, main the staff with 101 hits. It’s been an abundantly profitable rookie marketing campaign for the pending restricted free agent by all accounts, placing himself in line for a good elevate this summer season and a assured roster spot transferring ahead, barring any sudden regression.
Anticipate enforcer Michael Pezzetta to see his most common utilization this season in Heineman’s absence. The 26-year-old was a wholesome scratch for all of November and December however has performed in 4 video games because the New Yr, bringing his complete on the marketing campaign to seven. He’s nonetheless on the lookout for his first level of the marketing campaign and has a minus-two score whereas averaging 6:25 per recreation.
All of us at PHR lengthen our greatest needs to Heineman in his restoration.
