"Heineman, as you may recall, was somewhat of a throw-in in the Noah Dobson trade with the Montreal Canadiens. The Isles viewed the two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft as the meat and potatoes of the return. But there was a reason why GM Mathieu Darch insisted on Heineman being part of the return. Now, we can see why."
"Heineman, who was originally a second-round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft, has actually bounced around a bit. Heineman went from Florida to Calgary in the Sam Bennett trade back in 2021. After a short stint with the Flames, Heineman was on the way out. He landed in Montreal as part of the trade that sent Tyler Toffoli to Alberta."
"Well, what a difference a change of scenery can make. The Islanders were willing to give Heineman a shot from the get-go. But no one really thought he would shoot up the team's depth chart. Ever since getting a shot to play with Horvat, Heineman looks like he's unlocked the potential that made him a once-coveted prospect. The 23-year-old now has five goals and two assists for seven points in 11 games this season. That's a fantastic stat line to start the season."
Emil Heineman joined the New York Islanders after being included in the Noah Dobson trade, with the team also acquiring two 2025 first-round picks. Heineman was a 2020 second-round pick of the Florida Panthers, traded to Calgary in the Sam Bennett deal and later sent to Montreal in the Tyler Toffoli trade. He struggled to stick in Montreal and became expendable before getting an opportunity with the Islanders. Playing alongside Bo Horvat appears to have unlocked Heineman's potential; the 23-year-old has five goals and two assists for seven points in 11 games. Heineman has provided crucial plays, including a turnover-to-goal sequence that led to a Horvat game-winner.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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