Don't be fooled by Heiskanen's quiet demeanor: 'He knows how good he is'

Miro Heiskanen sighs a little bit when he's asked to talk about himself.
The 21-year-old defenseman, who led the Stars in playoff scoring last season, was on a Zoom call Monday when he attempted to explain once again why he is so good.
"Like I say many times, I just do my thing," Heiskanen said with a shrug.

The young Finn might have trouble putting his thoughts into English. Then again, he might just be shy and doesn't really like to be put under the media's self-examination spotlight. But if you're wondering if Heiskanen's words represent his attitude … well, yes andno.

Yes, he definitely doesn't think about how others judge him or dissect each of his plays on film. No, that doesn't mean he doesn't try to be his best or doesn't understand just what he means to the success of the Stars.
"One thing I love about Miro is he knows how good he is," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "He knows, and elite athletes have this internal burning to keep getting better and pushing themselves. Miro has that."
Heiskanen in his rookie season tallied 33 points for an average of .40 per game. He also ranked second on the team in time on ice at 23:07. In his second regular season, which was cut short by the pandemic, he tallied 35 points for an average of .51 points per game and averaged 23:46 in ice time. Then, when the NHL returned for the playoffs in the bubble, Heiskanen had 26 points in 27 games for an average of .96 points per game and averaged 25:58 in time on ice.
He has improved each season and he has played his best hockey when the pressure has been the highest. That's a pretty strong testament to what the third overall pick in the 2017 draft can become.

When asked if he talks much about areas that can be improved, Bowness said not really.
"We mention things to him, we show him things, and he catches on right away," Bowness said. "It's going to come from within him. He's got such great natural instincts for the game that you don't want to tamper with. He's got great poise, great confidence. It's just a matter of him continuing to play and gaining experience in all situations. He'll just keep getting better."
Asked what he thinks about in the off-season when it comes to improvement, Heiskanen's answer fits right in with his philosophy.
"Oh, of course, you always can improve," Heiskanen said. "I played good in the playoffs, but still, I can help my team more. Of course, overall game can always be better. That's what I want to improve this year, to help my team every night more. Just getting better at my overall game."

He will likely do that this season. Could he match that point-a-game pace from the playoffs?
"We'll see about that," Bowness said with a chuckle. "That's tough to do for a defenseman."
Will he be a key leader who likely will play more than anyone on the team and be among the scoring leaders? That's a likely yes.
"Miro wants to be on the ice," Bowness said. "If the game is on the line, he wants to be out there. He doesn't want to be sitting on the bench. He wants to be the guy out there and you have to love that inner confidence about him."

Regular season opener: Stars vs. Predators

Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT
Where:American Airlines Center
TV:FOX Sports Southwest PLUS, ESPN+
Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM
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.