Why AHL Might Be Best Route For Heinola

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Despite a strong eight game showing at the NHL level - in which Villie Heinola showcased elite hockey IQ, recorded five points (1G, 4A) and logged 18:04 minutes of ice-time a night on average - the Jets assigned their 2019 first round pick defenceman to the Moose.

The rational behind the move was pretty straight forward. Yes, Heinola was undoubtedly one of the Jets’ six best defenceman in the games he suited up for, but he’s also still a teenager. Prospects need time to develop and that means they need time to be put in situations where they can make mistakes, learn and eventually thrive. In the NHL, it’s about winning every day. In the AHL, it’s about getting better every day.

Now that the Jets have done what they believe is best for their long-term future, it’s Heinola’s turn to do the same for himself.

The Finnish defenceman has two choices: remain in the AHL, or exercise the “European Assignment Clause” in his entry-level contract and play professionally in Finland, this season.

Obviously, coming off the disappointment of being cut by the Jets, the comfort of home will certainly be somewhat of an allure to Heinola. When Kristian Vesalainen was cut by the Jets in the fall of 2018, he was assigned to the Moose and after recording eight points in eight games he decided to go home and play for Jokerit (KHL). Ever since Vesalainen returned, he hasn't really been the same. Now, that may be a case of the player himself struggling, but it’s without question that Vesalainen has struggled to adjust his game to the North American ice surface, which is smaller than the rinks overseas.

For someone like Heinola that was so close to sticking with the Jets throughout the year, going overseas could be counterproductive. Saying in the AHL, however, provides him a better opportunity to continue on his current trajectory.

With the Moose, Heinola will have the opportunity to be utilized in just about every situation - top pairing at even strength, top power play unit and so on and so forth - with an extension of the Jets’ coaching staff helping him along the way.

“The coaching staff of the Jets, and ourselves, we’re consistently talking because we’re in the same city. The management can see the practices, the games, on a consistent basis. There’s a lot of benefits,” Moose head coach Pascal Vincent told InsideAHLHockey.com on Tuesday afternoon.

Players that are sent down from the NHL oftentimes refer to the AHL as a reset. There’s more time with the puck to be had, an opportunity to gain confidence and to overall asses ones game more precisely.

“I don’t think time in the American League can hurt anybody, to be honest,” said defenceman Cam Schilling

In Heinola’s case, there are certainly some aspects of his game that could be fine-tuned, or further developed, and there’s no better place to do that than a level directly below the NHL, against players on the cusp of the big leagues. He’ll be able to work on his zone entires at a slower pace, he’ll get plenty of chances to produce offence and above all, he’ll be able to gain some confidence.

Sticking with the Moose will also help further amalgamate him to North American culture and the city of Winnipeg.

“The players get to know each other,” Vincent said in regards to the Moose being so close to their NHL affiliate.

With a strong Finnish presence on the Moose—Kristian Vesalainen, Sami Niku and Joona Luoto—Heinola, not to mention Jets star Patrik Laine, there are plenty of people in the organization that understand the difficult transition.

“It’s a big thing to be with someone you know already,” Luoto said. “You can speak the native language with them, it’s pretty good.”

And when you’re a pro hockey player, there’s a lot of things away from the rink that you have to account for. That’s not always an easy thing for an 18-year-old to handle on itself, let alone doing so in a different part of the world. Starting at the top with Laine, the Fins look out for each other and ensure their fellow countrymen are well adjusted. They can relate to the homesickness, the culture differences and help each other navigate life in Winnipeg.

Laine has seemingly lead the charge in uniting the Fins.

“I lived with him [for] the first month,” said Sami Niku when asked how Laine helped him adjust to North America. “I ate Finnish food, his mom made Finnish food. He helped me get my car and apartment.”

Heinola and Laine have spent plenty of time together this fall, even taking in a Moose game in their spare time a couple of weeks ago. Not only did Laine offer Heinola to room with him on the road, but the Jets sniper has had him over at his house for some Finnish home-cooked meals, too. That type of stuff goes a long way for Heinola, who’s still shacked up in a downtown Winnipeg hotel.

“You can’t cook or anything, it’s pretty hard,” Vesalainen said as he recounted his days of living in a hotel last year.

While it’s a rarity for teenaged defenceman to spend an entire season in the AHL—just five 18-year-old defenceman have played the majority of their seasons in the AHL over the last decade—the Jets have a sold foundation in place for Heinola to grow with their minor league affiliate. From the Jets perspective, it makes a great deal of sense for Heinola to stay in Winnipeg for the year.

But for now, the ball is in Heinola’s court.