The Heineman Heist
After being seen as a throw-in from the Noah Dobson trade, Emil Heineman has emerged as one of the Islanders’ early-season surprises.
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ELMONT, NY — For many, Emil Heineman was viewed as a throw-in piece in the deal that sent offensive defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens.
But for the Canadiens organization, their fan base — and New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche — they knew Heineman was a player.
Was he a top-six forward? Not in Montreal. But that was exactly the role Darche envisioned for him the moment he arrived on Long Island.
His lethal release and relentless forechecking gave Darche the confidence that Heineman could be a strong complementary piece alongside Bo Horvat and Jonathan Drouin.
The loud majority thought giving Heineman top-six minutes over Simon Holmstrom, Maxim Tsyplakov, or Maxim Shabanov was asinine.
“He’s not a top-six player. He should be on the fourth line.”
That sentiment echoed throughout training camp and preseason. Yet, time after time, Heineman proved why Darche and head coach Patrick Roy believed otherwise.
Since the puck dropped on the 2025-26 season, all Heineman has done is make Darche and Roy look like geniuses.
After a multi-goal performance in their 7-2 rout of the Detroit Red Wings — the Islanders’ fourth straight victory — Heineman found himself tied with Horvat for the team lead with five goals through the first seven games.
In the process, he also extended his point streak to six games (five goals, one assist).
The goals haven’t been flashy — that’s not Heineman’s game — but what’s been impressive is the release, something Darche, Roy, and everyone in the Islanders room have brought up first when discussing the 23-year-old’s impact.
He can flat-out rip the puck, scoring both of his goals Thursday via one-time finishes off crisp tape-to-tape feeds from Horvat in transition.
Even for Darche and Roy, who had high hopes, no one could have expected this — not even Heineman himself.
“It would be crazy to say that I expected this,” Heineman said postgame. “I’m just trying to take it day by day and play as good as I can.”
Does Heineman feel like he’s showing his true potential with the Islanders after glimpses last season in Montreal — only to be derailed by a pedestrian hit-and-run?
“You want to play well for your team, for my teammates,” Heineman said. “I’m still putting the most effort into how my actual game is. If my actual game is good, I’m playing well. I’m playing solid defensively and creating, so that’s what I’m looking at more. Then, you've got to be ready when those kinds of passes come.”
For Roy, it’s more than just the offense that’s impressed him:
“It’s more than that. I mean, it’s how he defends. It’s how quickly he’s jumping and finding those open seams for a pass. I mean, it’s fun to watch.”
Has Heineman exceeded Roy’s expectations?
“I didn’t know him very well,” Roy said. “I remember when we were talking about the trade with Montreal, and that’s when [Darche] made the trade, the first thing he said was, ‘Look out for this guy. He’s only 23 years old. He’ll be a great addition for our team,’ and right now, I mean, he’s been just impressive to watch.”
I asked Anders Lee what he’s seen from “Heiney.”
“He’s great in the room, a good kid, and a funny guy,” Lee said. “But I think he fits really well in that spot, because you can see that Bo is finding him. And like we’ve talked about before, we like our chances when he gets a shot off.”
When Heineman, Horvat, and Drouin have been on the ice this season — six games, with Drouin missing one due to suspension — the Islanders have outscored opponents 5-0 in 58:18 of 5-on-5 ice time, outshooting them 45-32.
When Heineman and Horvat have been on the ice — 71:36 — the Islanders have outscored opponents 5-1, outshooting them 39-26.
“He’s a really good player,” Heineman said of Horvat. “I mean, same with Drouin. They’re really skilled players with the puck, and at the same time, you can’t forget they’re working really hard and winning a lot of battles. Like the first goal, Drouin is winning a battle on the blue line, and we get a 2-on-1. So it’s those kinds of plays too. So yeah, it’s obviously a lot of fun to play with those guys.”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HEINEMAN
Stefen Rosner: What have you thought about the way your line has played so far?
Emil Heineman: “I think we’re getting better and better every game. We’ve been creating, and we’ve been playing solid defensively. I feel like it’s been quite solid, actually. We’re finding ways to create scoring chances — and we’ve been putting some pucks in the net too.”
Rosner: You come here knowing Mathieu Darche really wanted you in that trade. How have you felt you’ve played in your role?
Heineman: “I feel like I started off a little bit… not the way I wanted. I mean, I worked hard and battled hard and stuff like that, but I feel like I’m starting to get more comfortable with the puck and creating stuff. But obviously, you always want to take the next step, so I want to keep going. It’s getting there for sure.”
Rosner: What do you want to add to your game? You’re playing with two really talented linemates — you don’t have to do everything — but what more do you want to show?
Heineman: “I want to be strong around the puck and along the boards. That’s such a big part of the game. That’s the part I want to keep improving — creating off that, because if you lose it, it’s going to be a long backcheck. But on the other hand, if you win it, you can create something. It’s huge, so that’s probably it.”
Rosner: What’s it been like getting to know the guys in the room?
Heineman: “They’re nice. We’ve been having a really good time, and it’s been, like I said before, such a smooth ride coming here. Still early in the season, but it’s been so easy, and the guys have been awesome.”
Absolutely the best effort in years. This team looked connected ! Great Great Game! Let’s see if they can replicate.