The panel discusses what the Montreal Canadiens should do with Jake Evans. Emil Heineman continues to have a solid rookie season. He had a nice power-play goal against Chicago and had a run of 10 points in 15 games. Against Las Vegas, he had a game-tying goal and five hits on the scoresheet. Heineman [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-mid-season-awards] is eighth on the team in scoring with 17 points in 41 games. He’s a very productive fourth-liner getting these points in just over 11 minutes of ice time on average. The home crowd is getting treated to this Swede’s physicality. He has 60 hits at the Bell Centre this season, tied for the team lead at home with Juraj Slafkovsky. He has 101 on the season and I don’t remember him being this physical early in his career. So what are my expectations for him? Last season in Laval, he had 15 goals and 14 assists. Since he already has 10 this season, I’d say he should have 17 goals and 14 assists. At 23, with no NHL experience, if you told me pre-season, he might have this kind of season, I might not have been on board with it. I’m very pleased with his progress. In his draft year, he was a known commodity and that’s why he was drafted 43rd overall in 2020. I have liked the Canadiens' trade strategy of getting younger players who still have a development curve and Heineman is one of the best examples of that. Heineman doesn’t get enough ice time, in my estimation, but that’s just me, He got 9:56 at Colorado and 14:26 against Dallas. It’s a struggle but he’s making the most of it.
