Heinen, a native of Langley, British Columbia, is part of a core of young talent that revitalized the Boston Bruins in 2017-18.

The Bruins selected Heinen, a forward, in the fourth round (No. 116) of the 2014 NHL Draft after he had 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists) in 57 games with Surrey of the British Columbia Hockey League. Then came two seasons at the University of Denver, where he had 93 points (36 goals, 57 assists) in 81 games. He was the NCHC Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 and the conference Forward of the Year in 2015-16.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Bruins on April 12, 2016, and surprisingly made Boston's opening-night roster in 2016-17, making his NHL debut Oct. 13, 2016. But he was scoreless in eight games and played most of the season with Providence of the American Hockey League, finishing with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 64 games in his first pro season.

Heinen got his chance in Boston early in the 2017-18 season when David Krejci was injured and made the most of it. He scored his first two NHL goals on Oct. 26, 2017, and soon became a valuable two-way contributor capable of playing all three positions up front and sliding up and down the lineup. He keeps his feet moving, never stops competing and blends responsible defense with the willingness to get his nose dirty in front of the net.

Heinen was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Nick Ritchie on Feb. 24, 2020. He agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 27, 2022. He was an unrestricted free agent after the Penguins did not give him a qualifying offer.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• NCHC All-Rookie Team (2015)
• NCHC Second All-Star Team (2015)
• NCHC Rookie of the Year (2015)
• NCHC First All-Star Team (2016)
• Traded to Anaheim by Boston for Nick Ritchie, February 24, 2020.
• Signed as a free agent by Pittsburgh, July 29, 2021.