Player Discussion Danton Heinen III

[KrejciMVP]

personally I dont like the message demoting him sent to the team.

he's been snake bitten for sure this year.

but he has also done all you ask of a player all year. He is consistently engaged, skates hard, battles on the boards and in the corners and plays 200ft. He is generating good chances, he just isnt finishing

Meanwhile, floaters like Donato get quality minutes. not a good look to me

I do, he's gotten plenty of opportunities in the top 6 and has done little.

I like him on the 4th, it makes that line good and a matchup headache for other teams. He was on the ice when they scored yesterday, keep him there, no pressure role that allows him the freedom to be creative instead of being a passenger on the top 6 which he is clearly not ready for yet.

 

[Blowfish]

I can remember Heinen literally was carrying this team last year for a stretch . Wasn’t he right up there in points among Bruin forwards around the end of February ? Was it a mirage ? Can he be that player again ?

GloryDaze? NeelyNugs? Heinen? one of you are Gillesgilbert?

 

[Blowfish]

Thought he looked good centering the 4th line.

And perhaps he stays there and contributes but he's had his fair share of attempts top lines.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

And perhaps he stays there and contributes but he's had his fair share of attempts top lines.

Agree really don’t think the Heinen from the first half of last season is coming back.

 

[LouJersey]

They should have not touched

Heinen JFK Donato

Constantly needing to cater to Backes, Nordstrom of the world really slowing down on the "build"

Yeah I agree. Sick and tired of the Bruins playing 4th liners up in the lineup for what seems like a decade plus and counting.

Backes I don't hate as a 3rd liner at times as he's played well recently, but he's better suited for the 4th. We literally dress 5 4th liners minimum per game with another as a healthy scratch.

I like Cave. I like Wagner. I like Nordstrom, but play them where they should be played. 4th line. Cassidy has "his guys" though, and he always has to have them somewhere in the lineup it seems.

 

[Tmac37]

Gotta feel for the guy, Cassidy is yanking him around - starts on the 2nd line and down to the 4th.

 

[LouJersey]

Gotta feel for the guy, Cassidy is yanking him around - starts on the 2nd line and down to the 4th.

For zero reason IMO. The first goal wasn't his fault, it took Marchand forever to get back to the bench. Heinen should either be on 46's line or on a 3rd line w 23 and 17 and let them grow. Sick of the Nordstrom bad aid, or whatever you want to call it. It's not working. They are a 95 point team right now, the kid line was playing well, then had a bump so of course they had to be blown apart. maddening.

 

[Sheppy]

For zero reason IMO. The first goal wasn't his fault, it took Marchand forever to get back to the bench. Heinen should either be on 46's line or on a 3rd line w 23 and 17 and let them grow. Sick of the Nordstrom bad aid, or whatever you want to call it. It's not working. They are a 95 point team right now, the kid line was playing well, then had a bump so of course they had to be blown apart. maddening.

Heinen should not be on the 2nd line.

 

[LouJersey]

Heinen should not be on the 2nd line.

I like him better on line 3, but by default who should?

Donato and Bjork are not anything what we thought they would be so far. Backes is old. The rest of the guys are 4th liners. So who is this mystery 2nd liner we have available to us?

 

[KrejciMVP]

I like him better on line 3, but by default who should?

Donato and Bjork are not anything what we thought they would be so far. Backes is old. The rest of the guys are 4th liners. So who is this mystery 2nd liner we have available to us?

He looked like he was not in sync with Krejci and Debrusk and didn't really know where to go. I like when he's the leader on the line, taking faceoffs and sets the plays himself. Put him with a couple of tough guys on the 4th and he'll have some space to make plays. It would make for a good 4th line

 

[shoulders7]

For zero reason IMO. The first goal wasn't his fault, it took Marchand forever to get back to the bench. Heinen should either be on 46's line or on a 3rd line w 23 and 17 and let them grow. Sick of the Nordstrom bad aid, or whatever you want to call it. It's not working. They are a 95 point team right now, the kid line was playing well, then had a bump so of course they had to be blown apart. maddening.

I am far from a Heinen hater and actually like him on the third line, but this garbage has to stop. Nothing is ever his fault and every time he gets dropped to the fourth line it is a crime against humanity ffs. He hasn’t been good this year, no other way to look at it. Fans rightfully expected much more from him coming off a 47 point rookie season. At every other level leading up to this he has made the jump in his second season, he has regressed badly this year, pacing for what, 23 points?
I thought they should have kept that kid line together as well, and by no means am I advocating for trading him, but it is tiring to continually read about how well he is playing or he is just unlucky or the goal wasn’t his fault. Effort is there but at this point production is needed, we are going on a full calendar year of a slump now. Something has to give. As you said though, they have nowhere else to turn and I too am tired of seeing Nordstrom anywhere but the fourth line, so he will get the chance to pull out of it. Hoping he does, he is a good player.

 

[Mainehockey33]

This is all on the coaching. He shouldn’t have touched the Marchand-Krejci-Pastrnak line or the Heinen-JFK-Donato line with Bergeron back. Bjork and Debrusk can help Bergeron more than Nordstrom and Backes, but it’s not happening.

 

[Sheppy]

I like him better on line 3, but by default who should?

Donato and Bjork are not anything what we thought they would be so far. Backes is old. The rest of the guys are 4th liners. So who is this mystery 2nd liner we have available to us?

I would agree. The fact that the 2nd line wing is not being addressed is an issue right now. We've got 3rd liners, and 4th liners in that position.

 

[Son of Donegal]

This is all on the coaching. He shouldn’t have touched the Marchand-Krejci-Pastrnak line or the Heinen-JFK-Donato line with Bergeron back. Bjork and Debrusk can help Bergeron more than Nordstrom and Backes, but it’s not happening.

There is a part of me that thinks Cassidy is feeling all of this right now. I would not be surprised if we see those lines again very soon. At the end of the day, Cassidy wants to win. If putting Gemel Smith in net gets the Bruins two points, I think he would consider it.

 

[missingchicklet]

This is all on the coaching. He shouldn’t have touched the Marchand-Krejci-Pastrnak line or the Heinen-JFK-Donato line with Bergeron back. Bjork and Debrusk can help Bergeron more than Nordstrom and Backes, but it’s not happening.

And if he would do something like Nordstrom-Cave-Wagner/Backes for the fourth line in addition to having sensible 1 and 3 lines that would give him 3 out of 4 lines that match up well with a lot of teams. Instead he is screwing up multiple lines with his "creativity" and binkyism.

 

[LouJersey]

I am far from a Heinen hater and actually like him on the third line, but this garbage has to stop. Nothing is ever his fault and every time he gets dropped to the fourth line it is a crime against humanity ffs. He hasn’t been good this year, no other way to look at it. Fans rightfully expected much more from him coming off a 47 point rookie season. At every other level leading up to this he has made the jump in his second season, he has regressed badly this year, pacing for what, 23 points?
I thought they should have kept that kid line together as well, and by no means am I advocating for trading him, but it is tiring to continually read about how well he is playing or he is just unlucky or the goal wasn’t his fault. Effort is there but at this point production is needed, we are going on a full calendar year of a slump now. Something has to give. As you said though, they have nowhere else to turn and I too am tired of seeing Nordstrom anywhere but the fourth line, so he will get the chance to pull out of it. Hoping he does, he is a good player.

I said he should only be there by default. he hasn't produced near what he should, all agreed, but he's still better than Donato or Bjork, and the rest of the roster is comprised of 4th liners.

 

[Sheppy]

I can remember Heinen literally was carrying this team last year for a stretch . Wasn’t he right up there in points among Bruin forwards around the end of February ? Was it a mirage ? Can he be that player again ?

What about March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December?

 

[rocketdan9]

Yeah I agree. Sick and tired of the Bruins playing 4th liners up in the lineup for what seems like a decade plus and counting.

Backes I don't hate as a 3rd liner at times as he's played well recently, but he's better suited for the 4th. We literally dress 5 4th liners minimum per game with another as a healthy scratch.

I like Cave. I like Wagner. I like Nordstrom, but play them where they should be played. 4th line. Cassidy has "his guys" though, and he always has to have them somewhere in the lineup it seems.

4th line limit

Backes, Nordstrom, Wagner, Kulary, Acciari

Don't care which 3 play on the 4th line.... but on the 4th line only

 

[shoulders7]

I said he should only be there by default. he hasn't produced near what he should, all agreed, but he's still better than Donato or Bjork, and the rest of the roster is comprised of 4th liners.

Yes, I agreed with you about the by default thing, until they call someone up or make a trade he is the best that they can do at the moment. Like you said, they have way too many fourth liners on the roster at the moment (Acciari, Kuraly, Nordstrom, Wagner, Backes, cave) and not enough middle six players. Hell, at this point stempniak would be a better option, at least he knows how to score.

 

[Sheppy]

4th line limit

Backes, Nordstrom, Wagner, Kulary, Acciari

Don't care which 3 play on the 4th line.... but on the 4th line only

Is it bad that I think the guy making 6 million is one of the odd ones out? I think Nordstrom brings more hustle, Kuraly too, and Wagner is much more physical.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Is it bad that I think the guy making 6 million is one of the odd ones out? I think Nordstrom brings more hustle, Kuraly too, and Wagner is much more physical.

Nope, whenever I do a lineup I forget to put Backes in it. Not on purpose, but because his play is very forgettable. Not sure if that hurts the possibility of trading him in July though.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Just reading the tea leaves a bit.

He did start on the 2nd line and ended up playing on the 4th for most of the last period and a half, right? Being replaced by that offensive stud, Joakim Nordstrom.

Trainwreck may be too harsh....but it was late and I struggled to come up with a better word to describe the greatest player in the league to average about 1/3 of a point per game over the last 80 games or so.

Is offensively challenged too mean?

How about tremendously unlucky, through no fault of his own?

Or maybe....amazingly productive: just not in important or tangible ways?

If anyone among the forwards is going to be moved out to give someone else a shot, I'd think the guy who essentially got demoted would be among the likeliest of candidates.

But hey, I've been wrong before.

I once thought Heinen was going to be a productive player for years to come.

Edit....not to nitpick but I just watched Wagner's goal again....

While I know these things happen over the course of a season....the assist that he got was an absolute gift.

Wagner swept the puck behind the net...Heinen reached out to try to get it, but either missed it altogether or it barely nicked his stick, got past him, got to Moore who crossed it to Wagner for the goal.

He literally did nothing, aside from not cleanly receive a pass/dump around for that assist.

If you are going to nitpick, which you consistently do with Heinen, and get on his case for the gift assist, go back on the DVR about 15 seconds and watch the set up he gives Wagner in front of the net. He should have scored on that, and these things have a way of evening out.

There have been many, many occasions this season where he has set players up point blank and they couldn’t finish. Maybe I should start highlighting these after every game?

I have said all along that Heinen needs to be more productive. My issue with you is that you seem to want to single Heinen out for mistakes other players make all the time, yet ignore any good plays he makes. The root of all of this is that you think he’s soft and it colors every perception. If Heinen had the same point totals, but jumped a guy every 15 games, you would be totally cool with him.

 

[Sheppy]

If you are going to nitpick, which you consistently do with Heinen, and get on his case for the gift assist, go back on the DVR about 15 seconds and watch the set up he gives Wagner in front of the net. He should have scored on that, and these things have a way of evening out.

There have been many, many occasions this season where he has set players up point blank and they couldn’t finish. Maybe I should start highlighting these after every game?

I have said all along that Heinen needs to be more productive. My issue with you is that you seem to want to single Heinen out for mistakes other players make all the time, yet ignore any good plays he makes. The root of all of this is that you think he’s soft and it colors every perception. If Heinen had the same point totals, but jumped a guy every 15 games, you would be totally cool with him.

There's also several times where Heinen has been set up and launches one right into the crest of the jersey. He's just a bit frustrating to me, he's not a second line player (and that's totally not his fault that he keeps getting time there) - He's a 3rd liner who simply isn't really producing. He's leaving a lot to be desired right now. What really bugs me is the fact that he just doesn't seem to have much fight. The guy gets knocked around after the whistle and it looks like he's almost about to cry. He just kind of stands there like a deer in the headlights with a worried look on his face. That, and he pulls up on hits. He's had countless, COUNTLESS opportunities to lay the body or separate a guy from the puck, he instead peels away. It's like he's afraid to be a little mean.

I get that he's simply not a physical player, but a guy like him totally worries me come playoff time. I don't see an extra, helpful gear there from him. I saw it from DeBrusk and I saw Heinen go into hiding.

I know you're a big fan of his, and I respect that but he's been pretty bad... and he has been since March of last year.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

personally I dont like the message demoting him sent to the team.

he's been snake bitten for sure this year.

but he has also done all you ask of a player all year. He is consistently engaged, skates hard, battles on the boards and in the corners and plays 200ft. He is generating good chances, he just isnt finishing

Meanwhile, floaters like Donato get quality minutes. not a good look to me

If there is one criticism I have of Cassidy (and this isn’t about Heinen) it’s that he doesn’t give some of these line combos any time to gel at all. I’m all for “in-game” adjustments, but he rarely gives any line other than the first time (and 74/46) time to develop chemistry. That wing position has been a revolving door and it hasn’t helped anybody.

I was at a high school tournament but I watched the game afterwards and I didn’t think that:

43-46-74

Looked that bad. They were moving the puck well and weren’t getting burned defensively. Krejci can obviously still produce when he has quality wings, so get him another quality wing and slide Heinen down. I thought he and 14 and 52 looked good.

 

[sarge88]

If you are going to nitpick, which you consistently do with Heinen, and get on his case for the gift assist, go back on the DVR about 15 seconds and watch the set up he gives Wagner in front of the net. He should have scored on that, and these things have a way of evening out.

There have been many, many occasions this season where he has set players up point blank and they couldn’t finish. Maybe I should start highlighting these after every game?

I have said all along that Heinen needs to be more productive. My issue with you is that you seem to want to single Heinen out for mistakes other players make all the time, yet ignore any good plays he makes. The root of all of this is that you think he’s soft and it colors every perception. If Heinen had the same point totals, but jumped a guy every 15 games, you would be totally cool with him.

No, my issue with him is his lack of production over nearly a calendar year, while people like you continue to make excuses for him. Sure he's had some bad luck....who hasn't? It's par for the course in the NHL that goalies make great saves, posts get hit, pucks hop over sticks, teammates (often him) shoot wide after they get a great set up.

I just wonder why you seem to notice this more with him than others? Imagine how many assists he's cost his teammates by missing the net 3/4 times he shoots? That's who I feel bad for, the guys who are saddled with him as a line mate.

I'll ask you this...can you find one negative post from me about him prior to around November? Doubt it. Even during the playoffs last year when he got a whole point in 9 games I don't remember being hard on him, because he was a rookie and it's part of the process.

Calling a spade a spade....you're right, I'd be much happier if he pounded a guy every few games while producing garbage for stats, because at least that would be entertaining. Instead we're treated to "good positioning" or "solid play along the wall" as a supplement to production.

Unfortunately, for him and all his enablers, he's now almost 130 games into his career and despite the various excuses that people want to make for him, we all should be concerned that he's heading to Kraig Nienhuis/Ken Hodge Jr. territory.

As for singling him out. Maybe that's true, but to be honest if people were this vocal in support of other non-producers, I'd probably be in the same discussion.

I can't make this clear enough.....I only care about the team winning and giving me something to enjoy watching. I don't care if it's Heinen, Kuraly, Wagner, Donato or anyone else...if you're producing and giving a good effort, I'm happy to root for you. If you're not -- I'm 100% happy to watch someone else get a chance.

Maybe it's just time to put him on the 4th line and tell him that's where he's going to be. Maybe it's a mental thing and he can't handle bouncing around the lineup. It's unfortunate if that's the case, but if it helps, why not give it a try?