The versatile veteran winger has made the most of his opportunity and of late has been skating with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha.
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Danton Heinen has gone from the outside to the inner circle with the Bruins this season.
Signed to a professional tryout contract prior to training camp, the versatile veteran winger is now winging it with the likes of
David Pastrnak and
Pavel Zacha on the top line.
On his way to his current spot, Heinen has made stops on all four lines as well as being a regular penalty killer. He’s been a bargain with a $775,000 price tag, the NHL veteran minimum, on his way to 13 goals, 28 points, and a plus-7.
“You never know in this game, right?” Heinen said Thursday before
the Bruins’ 5-2 loss to the Rangers at TD Garden. “There’s ups, there’s downs.
Following two good seasons with the Penguins, Heinen found himself without a lot of options last summer, in large part because so many teams were snug against the salary cap.
Heinen has fit nicely with Pastrnak and Zacha, the trio meshing well as 200-foot players.
“I feel like it’s going pretty well. I’m just trying to build every game and get more comfortable with them, and I just listen to them and see what they want,” Heinen said. “Pasta had three last game, so that’s a good thing seeing him put the puck in the net. I’m just trying to put the puck in the net anyway I can.”
Originally a Bruins draft pick in 2014, Heinen played some with Pastrnak during his first tour of duty in town. The talent was always evident, he said, but he notices changes, too.
“You see as a guy how much he’s grown as a leader in the room,” said Heinen, who was dealt to the Ducks in 2020 before landing with the Penguins. “But I think on the ice, too, he’s grown into himself. He was a kid when he came into the league. People don’t realize how hard he plays and how many battles he wins to create that offense and how hard he is on pucks. I think that gets looked over sometimes.”
In turn, Pastrnak has enjoyed watching the player Heinen has become.
“I would say he’s the same player, but he just has more experience,” Pastrnak said. “He’s been on some great teams and with some world class players, so [he] gained experience and learned from those guys. Experience plays a big part of it once you get a little older and understand the game a little differently. He’s a big part of our team.”
Heinen said he “loves it” in Boston but hasn’t paid much attention to what’s in store beyond this season.
“I kind of block out that stuff,” said Heinen, when asked about a possible contract extension. “Just play and have fun.”