D Ville Heinola - Manitoba Moose, AHL (2019, 20th, WPG)

[Jabba11]

Why is this kid so under the radar?!

He's the type of player that wouldn't surprise me to be seen picked in the top 10. Probably the best defenceman behind Bowen Byram. Really hope Montreal can pick him.

 

[ijuka]

Why is this kid so under the radar?!

He's the type of player that wouldn't surprise me to be seen picked in the top 10. Probably the best defenceman behind Bowen Byram. Really hope Montreal can pick him.

Who knows? Not even convinced he's behind Byram. Hopefully he performs well at u-18s.

 

[Jabba11]

Who knows? Not even convinced he's behind Byram. Hopefully he performs well at u-18s.

Better than Byram?

 

[ijuka]

Better than Byram?

Not necessarily. But he IMO inexplicably doesn't get nearly enough credit. Best season by a u18 Liiga D in some 30 years. Especially since returning from his injury, has been scoring at a fantastic pace in Liiga. Great playoffs. A point per game in the practice games leading up to u-18s. Looked good at u-20s. All that making him #24 on McKenzie's list? Does not compute.

 

[1OApick]

I think he is near Heiskanen level talent. Doesn't have that marvelous skating but his defensive and offensive iq is really high. Would totally consider him as first d in the draft.

 

[FinnishSniper]

Why is this kid so under the radar?!

He's the type of player that wouldn't surprise me to be seen picked in the top 10. Probably the best defenceman behind Bowen Byram. Really hope Montreal can pick him.

Trust me, he will destroy the U-18s like Heiskanen and sneak at least into the top-8. Heiskanen wasn’t regarded even I think as a top-10 prospect before the U-18s

 

[FinnishSniper]

Not necessarily. But he IMO inexplicably doesn't get nearly enough credit. Best season by a u18 Liiga D in some 30 years. Especially since returning from his injury, has been scoring at a fantastic pace in Liiga. Great playoffs. A point per game in the practice games leading up to u-18s. Looked good at u-20s. All that making him #24 on McKenzie's list? Does not compute.

Yup. Seeing players like Soderstrom and Seider over him gives me a headache. Not even near the talent level of this kid.

He is clearly the #2 D-man in my eyes, I think most will see that once the season is over

 

[Noma]

I think he is near Heiskanen level talent. Doesn't have that marvelous skating but his defensive and offensive iq is really high. Would totally consider him as first d in the draft.

I'd say he is not even near Heiskanen's level. It doesn't mean he isn't good, I think he could well be picked in the top-15. But currently there is a single-digit amount of D-men that are on par with Heiskanen when it comes to the talent level. And I don't think Heinola is one of them.

 

[karhukissa]

Yup. Seeing players like Soderstrom and Seider over him gives me a headache. Not even near the talent level of this kid.

He is clearly the #2 D-man in my eyes, I think most will see that once the season is over

Yup. He is flying under the radar even in Finland, besides HC hockeyfans, not many knows that this kid exists.

One of these next gen Finnish players, where you can already see him adapting quickly to any level and performing well at the young age.

We'll be much wiser after U18 tournament though. Let's hope he stays healthy and leads Finland to the another gold medal with Lundell and co.

 

[1OApick]

I'd say he is not even near Heiskanen's level. It doesn't mean he isn't good, I think he could well be picked in the top-15. But currently there is a single-digit amount of D-men that are on par with Heiskanen when it comes to the talent level. And I don't think Heinola is one of them.

I reckon Heiskanen is very good. But Heinola is not very far awat from Miro as a prospect.

 

[ijuka]

I'd say he is not even near Heiskanen's level. It doesn't mean he isn't good, I think he could well be picked in the top-15. But currently there is a single-digit amount of D-men that are on par with Heiskanen when it comes to the talent level. And I don't think Heinola is one of them.

Well, his scoring and overall performance to end his Liiga season was far superior to Heiskanen's. Does that mean he'll become as good? No, but that still is the case.

Since returning from his injury in February, Ville Heinola has 12 points in 18 Liiga games, including playoffs. Having him #24 is far more ridiculous than having him #3 IMO.

Let's remember that pure point-production has historically outperformed NHL scouts with defensemen. Hence I put a ton of value on pure points for defensemen specifically. But sheesh, it's not even just that. Always you hear "Heinola looked very good", "looks great" etc. which lines up with my eye test as well, but he still is ranked criminally low.

 

[Zaddy]

Yup. Seeing players like Soderstrom and Seider over him gives me a headache. Not even near the talent level of this kid.

He is clearly the #2 D-man in my eyes, I think most will see that once the season is over

Seider I will give you but Söderström is not far behind Heinola. He has some of the highest hockey IQ in the entire draft, and probably the highest among defensemen. He's going to be a player for sure. I think him and Heinola are not that different as players. Heinola is a bit better offensively and Söderström is better defensively, but they're both great prospects with bright futures.

 

[Mrb1p]

Seider I will give you but Söderström is not far behind Heinola. He has some of the highest hockey IQ in the entire draft, and probably the highest among defensemen. He's going to be a player for sure. I think him and Heinola are not that different as players. Heinola is a bit better offensively and Söderström is better defensively, but they're both great prospects with bright futures.

He'd be the smartest if Heinola did not exist, unfortunately, Heinola does everything better. It's not close.

 

[Leon Draisaitl]

He kind of reminds me of Sandin. Sandin was drafted too late and I don't think teams will make the same mistake with Heinola.

 

[Zaddy]

He'd be the smartest if Heinola did not exist, unfortunately, Heinola does everything better. It's not close.

Heinola is a very smart player indeed, but for my money (and I've seen both guys a lot) Söderström is smarter. "It's not close" is just a weird thing to say considering how similar they are in many ways as players and especially when Söderström is ranked ahead of Heinola across the board. Obviously Heinola is being slept on big time, but it's not like he's a much better prospect than Söderström at this point of their careers. Both guys played top4 minutes in their respective leagues and did really well.

 

[Mrb1p]

Heinola is a very smart player indeed, but for my money (and I've seen both guys a lot) Söderström is smarter. "It's not close" is just a weird thing to say considering how similar they are in many ways as players and especially when Söderström is ranked ahead of Heinola across the board. Obviously Heinola is being slept on big time, but it's not like he's a much better prospect than Söderström at this point of their careers. Both guys played top4 minutes in their respective leagues and did really well.

Heinola did much better, espacially offensively. I don't really care about where people think X and Y are ranked, it's meaningless, as evidenced by Heinola being ranked outside the top-20 universally. He's a top 10 player and it's pretty evident.

 

[sasha barkov]

Have him ranked 6th on my list currently

 

[Kotkaniemi15]

I hope he falls to 15

 

[FinnishSniper]

I hope he falls to 15

One could hope, but he’ll defo go in the top 10 if he goes lights out in the U18s like I think he will

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Not saying (meaning) this or that with my post but...

This season in total of 55 games so far (Liiga, Liiga play-offs, Junior A, WJC, International junior)
5 goals, 26 assists, 31 points, +5, 0.58 ppg with 32 penalty minutes.

Most of his season he has been 17 year old, Ville turned 18 last Month.

Miro Heiskanen last season in total of 67 games
18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points, +32, 0.59 ppg with 28 penalty minutes

Miro was 18 years old the entire season.

Few things:
- Miro played for a far superior team what Ville this season in the Liiga
- Ville is younger what Miro was at his draft year
- their ppg is almost identical (0.58 vs 0.59)
- their level of defense and hockey IQ is at almost even level

 

[ijuka]

Heinola is a very smart player indeed, but for my money (and I've seen both guys a lot) Söderström is smarter. "It's not close" is just a weird thing to say considering how similar they are in many ways as players and especially when Söderström is ranked ahead of Heinola across the board. Obviously Heinola is being slept on big time, but it's not like he's a much better prospect than Söderström at this point of their careers. Both guys played top4 minutes in their respective leagues and did really well.

Being ranked where = absolutely whatever, I put 0 value on that. From what I've seen, I wouldn't call Söderström smarter. But the most important thing still is Heinola's offensive production, especially post-injury. It's higher than Kotkaniemi's for example. What Söderström's done this season is OK but nothing historical, unlike what Heinola's done. Which is the best draft-eligible season by a Finnish D in some 30 years.

I guess the u-18s could be good to watch. Hypothetically if we assume Heinola does as well as Heiskanen did, where would he go?

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

idk what is happening in Finland, but holy shit you guys got it figured it out.
Went to Sweden to visit, but f*** it I ill go to Finland next time


I would be in heaven if the Habs could take him at #15 or go down to 11-12 to take him.
Was higher on Soderstrom, but now I can see Heinola becoming a really great player.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Not saying (meaning) this or that with my post but...

This season in total of 55 games so far (Liiga, Liiga play-offs, Junior A, WJC, International junior)
5 goals, 26 assists, 31 points, +5, 0.58 ppg with 32 penalty minutes.

Most of his season he has been 17 year old, Ville turned 18 last Month.

Miro Heiskanen last season in total of 67 games
18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points, +32, 0.59 ppg with 28 penalty minutes

Miro was 18 years old the entire season.

Few things:
- Miro played for a far superior team what Ville this season in the Liiga
- Ville is younger what Miro was at his draft year
- their ppg is almost identical (0.58 vs 0.59)
- their level of defense and hockey IQ is at almost even level

What about skating? Heiskanen has been able to transition to the NHL due to his elite akating. Does Heinola have the same elite skating?

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

What about skating? Heiskanen has been able to transition to the NHL due to his elite akating. Does Heinola have the same elite skating?

No, and while he's not a bad skater, that's the only thing stopping him from being a consensus top-10 pick imo.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

No, and while he's not a bad skater, that's the only thing stopping him from being a consensus top-10 pick imo.

Miro has set the bar so high what comes to skating for d-men, so comparing their skating would be foolish.
You make it sound like there's problem with his skating... lol. - couldn't be far from the truth