Canadiens forward Emil Heineman is expected to miss 3-4 weeks after being hit by a car in Salt Lake City on Monday, the team announced.
The 23-year-old rookie has been a bright spot for Montreal this season, scoring 10 goals and adding 7 assists in 41 games.
The team didn’t share many details about the accident, but the relatively short recovery timeline suggests his injuries weren’t severe enough to require major surgery.
It’s been quite a journey for Heineman to get here. Originally drafted by Florida in the second round in 2020, he’s already been traded twice – first to Calgary in the Sam Bennett deal, then to Montreal as part of the Tyler Toffoli trade in 2022.
This season has been his real breakthrough. Despite playing the least amount of even-strength minutes among Habs regulars (just over 10 minutes per game), he’s tied for eighth in team scoring.
He’s made the most of his ice time on Montreal’s fourth line, forming an surprisingly effective trio with Jake Evans and Joel Armia. When they’re on the ice together, they control nearly 57% of the expected goals – pretty impressive for a bottom line.
The 6-foot, 202-pound forward hasn’t been afraid to throw his weight around either. He leads the team with 101 hits, bringing a physical edge that’s helped earn him a regular spot in the lineup.
It’s been the kind of rookie season that should set him up nicely for a raise when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
While Heineman recovers, Michael Pezzetta is likely to see more playing time. The 26-year-old enforcer has only appeared in seven games this season, mostly since January, and is still looking for his first point.
The accident is an unfortunate setback for a young player who was really finding his groove in the NHL. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.
