Heinola focused on being a permanent fixture on Jets blue line
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The future has finally arrived for Ville Heinola.
"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," the 23-year-old Finnish defenseman said Tuesday following an informal Winnipeg Jets skate at the Hockey For All Centre.
Heinola can no longer be exempt from waivers meaning he would surely be claimed by another club should the Jets try to send him down to the Manitoba Moose as they have for the past five years. The 20th-overall pick from 2019 has talent to burn while seemingly doing everything asked of him at the American Hockey League level while patiently waiting for his opportunity.
"Been grinding out every single day just to be ready when I get the chance to be in the top six. That's my only goal this year and working towards it," said Heinola.
His big-league dream became a nightmare last season when Heinola broke his ankle in the final preseason game. Heinola spent months recovering, then found his path to the Jets blocked by a healthy blue-line that ultimately went on to surrender the fewest goals in the league during the season.
The result was 41 games with the Moose trying to get back up to speed - and not a single contest with the Jets.
"It made me stronger mentally, for sure," said Heinola. "Probably physically, as well. It's never easy going through an injury and all the things that comes with it. But I think I handled it pretty well and am more ready now than I was last year."
Speaking of coaches, Heinola has had some good summer conversations with new bench boss Scott Arniel.
"I think the plan is pretty simple for me: I have to earn my job here and show what I can do and show them I can be in a top-six role," he said.
| POLL | ||
13 SEPTEMBRE | 12 ANSWERS Heinola focused on being a permanent fixture on Jets blue line Is this the year that Ville Heinola finally cracks the top 6 D-man for the Jets? | ||
| YES | 8 | 66.7 % |
| NO | 4 | 33.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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