Montreal Canadiens
Emil Heineman Involved In Accident, Hit By Car

There was some unfortunate news to discuss on Tuesday, as Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman was struck by a car while walking in Utah.
He will miss three to four weeks as he recovers from his injuries.
It’s difficult timing, both for the player and the team, as Heineman has enjoyed quite a successful season on the fourth line, alongside Jake Evans and Joel Armia. His 10 goals are tied for third most on the team, trailing only Nick Suzuki (13) and Cole Caufield (23). It’s also worth mentioning the fourth line has been excellent of late, driving the offence while the rest of the lines build chemistry.
Without Heineman, the Montreal Canadiens will look to another high-energy player to fill his role, though it will be difficult to replace his offensive impact considering the ice time. There’s a possibility Montreal could call up Joshua Roy, who has found his rhythm with the Laval Rocket, though Lucas Condotta is often the preferred choice when the team wants to keep their top prospects in the AHL.
Of course, the most important aspect of this whole situation is that Heineman is alive. Hockey doesn’t really matter at times like these. All that matters is that he’s supported by his teammates while being evaluated by medical experts. In the meantime, he can touch base with his family overseas, who will surely be glad to hear from their relative.
Salt Lake City Police release additional details on the accident involving #GoHabsGo forward Emil Heineman yesterday.
Heineman was hit by a car just before 3pm in Salt Lake City and received medical treatment from team doctors.
Utah Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. pic.twitter.com/wL7GvOlchN
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 14, 2025
Many of us probably struggle to empathize with players moving overseas at such a young age, since we tend to see them as hockey prospects and nothing more. But they’re someone’s son, or brother, and seeing a family member leave for another continent is never an easy proposal. It’s not an easy situation for the player, either, another reason we should have a little more patience and empathy for players arriving from Europe and elsewhere. Adapting to a new country, language, and culture makes adapting to a new team, teammates, and coaches that much more challenging.
Things could have turned out much worse, and it’s a good reminder to seize the day, because we never know when things will change.