Why Heiskanen's rookie season just keeps getting better

DENVER -- Miro Heiskanen's rookie season keeps getting better.
And nobody is really surprised. Sure, the 19-year-old defenseman played in the World Juniors, the Olympics and was named defenseman of the year for the Finnish Elite League, but he had yet to play against the NHL.
Now, after 32 games, Heiskanen seems to be raising his level of play with each passing one. Heiskanen played 23:02 Thursday, and had a goal, four shots on goal, and five takeaways in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
With John Klingberg out since Nov. 8 with a broken hand, Heiskanen has seen his minutes and his opportunities go up.

"I feel like ever since Klinger went down, he's elevated his game," said forward Blake Comeau. "You can see the more he's playing, the more confident he's getting."

Heiskanen has tallied a point in four straight games, making him the first teenager in franchise history since Mike Modano in 1989 to have a four-game point streak. And the manner in which he's getting those points is impressive. On Thursday, he took a pass in the slot and snapped a shot past Martin Jones.
"That shot tonight, it's about the third time he's done it," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "It's unreal. It's really hard, I think I've said this before, to get that, catch and release in stride without a stick-handle is something that a lot of our other players need to learn how to do."
Heiskanen now leads all rookie defensemen with seven goals. He also leads all Stars defensemen and is fourth overall on the team in goal scoring.
"He's so talented, it doesn't look like he gets tired out there, he's just such a good skater," Comeau said. "He's been huge for us so far. He's great defensively, he jumps up on every play, he's been able to get on the board for us as well.
"It's crazy to think he's as young as he is, so it's exciting he's going to be a part of this organization for a long time."

Honka impressing after 'best game'

Defenseman Julius Honka stepped into the lineup Thursday after seven healthy scratches and played 19:20 in ice time. That was his second most minutes this season, and significantly better than the 9:52 he played before his string of scratches.
"I thought that was Honka's best game of the year," Montgomery said. "I thought he moved the puck, I thought he was jumping. He was more involved in the attack."
Honka said he was happy with the performance.
"Body felt good," Honka said. "Of course, if you haven't played for a little bit, you kind of take a while to get into it. I think overall I felt pretty good."

With Gavin Bayreuther scheduled to return to the lineup after a rest day, the coaching staff could look at scratching Joel Hanley or Taylor Fedun on Saturday against Colorado just to get Honka back in.
Dallas recalled forward Denis Gurianov from the AHL on Friday, so he also could shake up the lineup. Martin Hanzal sat out Thursday, and is expected to return.

If Gurianov and Hanzal both jump in, two forwards would come out of the lineup.
Gurianov has 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 23 games for the Texas Stars this season. He has a goal in two games with Dallas.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.