The Winnipeg Jets have decided to keep Ville Heinola for two more years with a $1.6M contract.
Heinola, picked 20th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, has had a slow start due to the team’s cautious approach with young players. Over five years, he hasn’t played more than 12 games in a season.
In total, Heinola has appeared in 35 games since the 2019-20 season, scoring one goal and earning 11 points. His average ice time was about 15 minutes per game but dropped to just over 13 minutes last season . Spending all of last season with Manitoba Moose in the AHL, he scored ten goals and had 27 points in 41 games. The previous year he had three goals and racked up 37 points in just eight more games.
Challenges Ahead:
This offseason saw some changes that could give Heinola a better chance at regular playtime next season. But with Dylan Samberg and Logan Stanley also vying for spots, he’ll face stiff competition during training camp.
Fans might think this is his big break or another tough challenge ahead.
His journey so far shows promise but also struggles to find consistent playtime at the NHL level. What do you think? Will this be his year?
