Realistically, Which Calibre Of Defenceman Will Heiskanen Become?

[Kamiccolo]

I need more viewings. One game doesn't mean anything especially at the start of the year but I saw his first shift video and was impressed. Has amazing skating ability and puck moving ability, very smart decisions and has the poise of a vet.

However tools are not everything and we know how things can go. Does he put up offense? Does he get eaten alive when he faces a better team than the Coyotes? How does he play when the adrenaline finally fades and he's in game 60? We see kids have unreal starts to their careers and never reach them again.

However if he was a Leaf I would be very hyped. Not a sure thing but he can be very good.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Definitely has all the tools of an elite defenseman. The way he skates the game with his speed very few players in this league have. I haven't seen enough of him to know what his IQ is like, which is just as important as physical skills. If he has above average IQ and vision then there's no doubt in my mind he will be a star (no pun intended) in this league.

 

[Kcb12345]

Definitely has all the tools of an elite defenseman. The way he skates the game with his speed very few players in this league have. I haven't seen enough of him to know what his IQ is like, which is just as important as physical skills. If he has above average IQ and vision then there's no doubt in my mind he will be a star (no pun intended) in this league.

His IQ, Vision, passing, and skating are his biggest assets.

I need more viewings. One game doesn't mean anything especially at the start of the year but I saw his first shift video and was impressed. Has amazing skating ability and puck moving ability, very smart decisions and has the poise of a vet.

However tools are not everything and we know how things can go. Does he put up offense? Does he get eaten alive when he faces a better team than the Coyotes? How does he play when the adrenaline finally fades and he's in game 60? We see kids have unreal starts to their careers and never reach them again.

However if he was a Leaf I would be very hyped. Not a sure thing but he can be very good.

He will really be tested on saturday against the Jets, who the Stars haven't beat in 2 years. Wouldn't be surprised if he makes a few mistakes in this one. Jets are a big and fast team and probably the toughest competition that Heiskanen could ever face in his 2nd game. Will be a big game for his development and hopefully he plays well in the likely 19-20+ minutes of ice time he gets

 

[Stealth JD]

All-star #1D. Step below Norris...but perennially top-10.

 

[winnipegger]

I see a lot of similarities to Lidstrom/Neidermyer. To play like that when your 19....jesus. Dallas got their #1D finally.

 

[Avsboy]

He'll be what Hedman is now, but Hedman will be what Lidstrom was then

 

[Master P]

Au contraire, I was hoping the title would get MORE people in here, because I feel he's worth it.

With good reason, of course, since Stars fans were waiting for last night's debut pretty much since Miro's draft day. He's done nothing to damper expectations, in fact he's only heightened them, and while the sample size is obviously miniscule thus far, it looked pretty damn promising.

Here's his first shift (borrowed from the Miro thread in the prospects board)

Looks fantastic. Also, is it just me or does is stick blade seem to be a bit longer then normal?

 

[LABound]

Lidstrom Lite
Mostly because he will be on less talented rosters

 

[Gsus]

Nice goal from him last night.

Deserved thread bump.

 

[CookiesAndMilk]

Nice goal from him last night.

Deserved thread bump.

Kid can deliver bombs. Is he just all around good? What's his weakness?

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

Generational, possible, but unlikely. Certainly not a realistic expectation, but I'm not even sure if that's even realistic for any young player apart from someone so clearly ahead of the pack like McDavid.

Realistically, a top 5 d-men is what I would expect at this point.

 

[Ippenator]

Kid can deliver bombs. Is he just all around good? What's his weakness?

He honestly doesn’t have clear weaknesses. Well, he is that young that obviously he is still a bit raw physically. But even that isn’t a very clear weakness for him anymore. But he can for sure still clearly develop with it. He is altogether an amazing talent honestly. I’m very excited to see what he will still develop into.

 

[edd1e]

Aki Berg without the finesse

 

[koyvoo]

Superstar and one of the very best D of his era

 

[PatrikBerglund]

Au contraire, I was hoping the title would get MORE people in here, because I feel he's worth it.

With good reason, of course, since Stars fans were waiting for last night's debut pretty much since Miro's draft day. He's done nothing to damper expectations, in fact he's only heightened them, and while the sample size is obviously miniscule thus far, it looked pretty damn promising.

Here's his first shift (borrowed from the Miro thread in the prospects board)

I am Swedish and have a hate/love relationship to Finns, especially in hockey. But watching that clip, he looked exactly like Karlsson at the same age.

It's not often a rookie defenceman is leading his team in icetime.

I fear this kid will become a 70 point player with great defence. Think Duncan keith with better offence and skating.

At least a couple of Norrisses during his career.



...which really pisses me off...haha...

 

[wetcoast]

Are we still gonna do this copycat thread title shtick this year?

Sighs

As to your question I don't see why he can't be a dominant number 1 defenseman.

Pretty much this.

His floor is as a decent #1 Dman, a guy that can play very well in all situations.

 

[Troy McClure]

Kid can deliver bombs. Is he just all around good? What's his weakness?

His weakness is the mercy he feels for his opponents.

 

[CookiesAndMilk]

He honestly doesn’t have clear weaknesses. Well, he is that young that obviously he is still a bit raw physically. But even that isn’t a very clear weakness for him anymore. But he can for sure still clearly develop with it. He is altogether an amazing talent honestly. I’m very excited to see what he will still develop into.

Thx for your insights. His first shift was really something else. It looked like he has been doing these kind of things since forever.

 

[Tuna Tatarrrrrr]

I don't think anyone credible would argue he will be another Orr/Lidstrom

In what World are Orr and Lidstrom in the same tier? The latter is not even better than Bourque who is in the tier below Orr.

Heiskanen will probably be in the Doughty tier.

 

[WhatWhat]

I see a lot of similarities to Lidstrom/Neidermyer. To play like that when your 19....jesus. Dallas got their #1D finally.

I know this is old but we already had a #1D before in Klingberg. Miro developing gives us a shot at 2 legit #1 Dmen

 

[WhatWhat]

I could see him reach the Karlsson doughty tier but realistically I see him becoming an absolute minute muncher like Keith

 

[Spotty 2 Hotty]

I see a lot of similarities to Lidstrom/Neidermyer. To play like that when your 19....jesus. Dallas got their #1D finally.

Yea, primarily with his poise, effortless skating, and stick work. Hard to gauge how he will turn out, but averaging 23 mins per game and playing both sides of special teams is a great place to start for a rookie.

 

[snipes]

In what World are Orr and Lidstrom in the same tier? The latter is not even better than Bourque who is in the tier below Orr.

Heiskanen will probably be in the Doughty tier.

Exactly. Orr stands alone by himself as the greatest D man of all time. No one else is even in the conversation.

Heiskanen looks to be an elite young D man who should be a perennial Norris candidate. Him, Chabot, and Dahlin are looking to be the next wave of elite D men in the league.

 

[Hagged]

Aki Berg without the finesse

This. The closest to Aki Berg the league has seen since Aki Berg. Dare I say Aki Berg 2.0.

 

[pbgoalie]

He looked very good in a bad game against us last night (Ducks)

From a Ducks perspective Like a Neidermeyer maybe.
Pretty impressive looking for a young Dman