I’m not advocating they “cater” to Heinen. I’m simply stating that players have different personalities and react differently to certain “stimuli”. Some kids need pats on the back and some need to get kicked in the ass. It’s the coaches job to know what buttons to push to get the most out of players. That’s not “catering” to a player.
I have called Heinen a cerebral player many times (he is lol). I have never once said that he is capable of driving a line. If anything, he’s more of a facilitator. Even as he matures and gets better, I’m not sure he will ever be capable of driving a line?
As far as “blaming his linemates”, how did DeBrusk look the first couple of games when Krejci was sleepwalking through those games? Last year he played most of the year with Riley Nash, Backes, Kuraly, and Schaller and managed the same points per game as DeBrusk, who had Krejci and higher quality linemates. He should get a freaking medal
He is a “Swiss Army knife” player imo, but I have said more than once that it works against him too. It’s much easier to slide a guy like Heinen (who can be trusted defensively) down than it is a player like Donato, who is a defensive liability.
My major problem with the way they use him is continuity. Two periods with Krejci and DeBrusk was enough to show what they can do? The fans talked about that line combo a lot and Krejci looked good with Heinen in preseason, but DeBrusk was in China. 46 and 74 worked together all last year, so that chemistry should be there, but Heinen got very little time with them last season.
It’s my personal belief that he (and the line) would flourish if put into the right situation. Hopefully, I get the chance to be proven wrong.