At the beginning of last season, forward Danton Heinen was without a contract and looking to revitalize his career in the NHL. An old familiar friend called and extended a Professional Tryout to the left wing without a spot on the roster at the time. The Boston Bruins brought the 2014 fourth-round draft pick back after stints with Anaheim and Pittsburgh based on their familiarity with the Langley, British Columbia native. There were no guarantees but there was not much else Heinen could do. From there, Heinen took full advantage of the opportunity and flourished, eventually playing minutes on the top line for the Bruins.
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In 74 games, Heinen scored 17 goals with 19 assists and was the versatile forward the Bruins had remembered. Playing on just a $775,000 one-year contract, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound wing contributed on the penalty kill and saw time up and down the lineup. Heinen became one of the highest-value signings of the offseason. Now it is time to see just how valuable Heinen is to Boston.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on Tuesday that the Bruins will reach out to Heinen’s camp about contract negotiations this week. Just how much commitment the Bruins want to make to Heinen is yet to be seen, but the forward has earned a raise for sure. The only drawback was Heinen’s playoff performance, where he posted just one assist and 10 shots on goal in eight games. One would have to believe that Heinen will seek a multi-year deal.
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With nine free agents to decide on, the potential big contract for goalie Jeremy Swayman, and the status of Linus Ullmark lurking, General Manager Don Sweeney has a busy offseason ahead of him. With Heinen potentially being the first order of business, Sweeney can not misstep and overpay for a player who had little interest last offseason. Possibly a two-year deal for the soon-to-be 29-year-old for maybe $2 million per season should be the cap.
The thing that is certainly in Heinen’s favor is a lack of left wings on the roster. After captain Brad Marchand, there isn’t much there. Heinen’s versatility and experience play into this value. Look for the Bruins to get a deal done soon and for it to be a good fit for both parties.
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