Montreal Canadiens’ Emil Heineman Signs ELC, To Join Laval Rocket

The 6’1, 185 lbs winger recently completed his season with his hometown Leksands IF in the SHL and was free to sign with the Montreal Canadiens. He plays a north-south game predicated on speed and shooting, which helped him score 11 goals and add five assists for a total of 16 points in 38 games this season.

Heineman is set to sign a Professional Try-Out (PTO) with the Laval Rocket in the coming days, making him eligible for the rest of the AHL season and also, most importantly, for the AHL Playoffs. With Heineman’s contract only kicking in next season, he is not limited in the same way Jordan Harris is, as he is not burning the first year of his contract. Instead, by signing a PTO, Heineman is eligible to play, as he was on the Montreal Canadiens’ Reserve List as of the NHL Trade Deadline. This is a great opportunity for the youngster, as he stands to gain some much-needed experience, as he gets acclimated to the North-American game. The experience will likely help him in his summer preparation, as he begins his climb to the NHL next Fall.

The 20-year-old was acquired in the February 14 trade with the Calgary Flames, which saw veteran Tyler Toffoli head over to Alberta in return for Heineman, a 2022 1st round pick, a 2023 5th round pick and forward Tyler Pitlick. He was a prospect that was identified by executive vice-president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes as being a player of intrigue, due in large part to his combination of skating, size and shooting ability.