Heiskanen primed for bigger offensive role with Stars under DeBoer
Defenseman expecting boost in point total with increased playing time in all situations
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The leash is expected to be long and the ice time significant; even strength, power play and penalty kill.
The 23-year-old feels he's built for it. Entering his fifth NHL season, it's his time to prove it and let the numbers do the talking for him.
"I've been thinking about it a lot that I want to be more creative in the offensive zone, score more points," Heiskanen said. "That's what I've been thinking about a couple years now. I've scored OK, but I can score a lot more."
Heiskanen topped out at 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) in 70 games last season, a slight drop from the 40-point pace he was on in 2020-21, when he had 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) playing 55 of the 56 games in the shortened season.
"We haven't seen his skill in the offensive zone yet," Stars forward Roope Hintz said.
There are specific reasons why.
John Klingberg used to be relied on to generate the most offense from the back end for the Stars. But Klingberg is not in Heiskanen's way anymore. He left via free agency to sign a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.
Dallas had a relatively conservative approach with its defensemen under former coach Rick Bowness. But that has changed now with Peter DeBoer taking over, bringing his up-tempo system, which gives the best skating defensemen freedom to skate and create.
"It's a change, a different mindset," Stars defenseman Ryan Suter said. "Right from Day One, we've talked about just being cleaner coming out of our end, getting the defensemen] involved. Every day we've been working on [defensemen] up in the rush, being part of it. A lot of skating involved with the [defensemen]."
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DeBoer said Heiskanen reminds him of Erik Karlsson with his skating, vision, puck-handling and ability to slow the game down. Karlsson had 78 points (19 goals, 59 assists) in 2011-12, his third NHL season. He averaged 71 points per season from 2013-18.
Suter used Nicklas Lidstrom as the comparison to Heiskanen. Lidstrom averaged 57.1 points per season in his 20-year Hall of Fame career. He had 60 or more points in nine seasons, including 70 or more four times.
Heiskanen could approach those Lidstrom-like numbers this season, perhaps even reach Karlsson's peak, because his best attributes, including his ability to skate, move the puck, find open lanes and use his vision to deliver off the rush, are stressed in DeBoer's system.
"I think part of finding the next level is on him maturing, getting comfortable in his own skin at the NHL level and what he can do, and part of it is us setting the table for him to have success," DeBoer said. "That part is on me from a style of play perspective, from an expectation on a nightly basis perspective to skate and be involved and take over games on a more regular basis with his skill level. I think those two things, I'm excited about the opportunity of them meeting. What we're going to bring style of play wise and what we're going to ask him to do, I think the sky is the limit."
Heiskanen can find plenty of proof that defensemen flourish offensively under DeBoer.
Brent Burns was the highest scoring defenseman in the NHL (301 points in 328 games) in his four full seasons playing in DeBoer's system from 2015-19 with the San Jose Sharks.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore had his best offensive season under DeBoer last season, with 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 78 games.
"Is he the flashy offensive guy?" Suter said of Heiskanen. "I don't know. I guess no one really knows. But does he have that capability? For sure. He's a stud."
DeBoer said his conversations with Heiskanen in training camp have been about providing more offense and getting more of an opportunity to do so.
Not surprisingly, he has been met with assurances that Heiskanen is ready for it.
"I talked to him the other day at the end of practice that we're going to ask you to skate and get involved every shift, that we're going to open the ice up for you and it's on you to skate and jump into those holes," DeBoer said. "He just smiled and told me, 'No problem.' I didn't get a lot back other than that, but I wasn't looking for more than that, so that sounds good."
Heiskanen's ability to take this next step in his game is a big reason why the Stars felt comfortable not re-signing Klingberg. It was part of the conversation DeBoer had in his interview process before he was hired.
"I think Miro is a very respectful person and player, and not my words, but in the interview process coming through here they were excited about the opportunity of this becoming his team from the back end," DeBoer said. "I think that's what it's going to be."
Said Heiskanen, "I don't take that with any pressure. I think I can do it and I want to do it."
