Heinen Looking to Rekindle Offensive Game

Sixteen goals, 31 assists and 47 points in 77 games.
That's Danton Heinen's stat line from the 2017-18 season, the year he broke into the NHL with the Bruins - and it's a big reason why Pittsburgh signed him to a one-year, one-way contract with an average annual value of $1.1 million after free agency opened earlier this summer.

"He's a well-rounded player, and we feel like there's some upside there," Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. "There are obvious numbers in Boston at the start of his career that catch your eye. We feel like there's a little more goal scoring there."
And so does Heinen, who turned 26 on July 5.
"I was put in some good situations and played with a lot of good players, so I think that kind of attributed to that early success," said Heinen, who was originally drafted by Boston in the fourth round (116th overall) in 2014.
"The goal is getting back there. I know I can do it, I know it's in there. It's just a matter of finding it and bringing it out so I can help the team offensively."
Heinen's numbers have certainly been respectable since that rookie campaign, as he reached double digits in goals each of the next two seasons.
He potted 11 goals in 77 games in 2018-19 (the same year he dressed for all seven of the Bruins Stanley Cup Final contests); and 10 goals split between Boston and Anaheim in 67 games in '19-20. Heinen then tacked on seven goals in 43 games with the Ducks in the shortened '20-21 season.
But moving forward, Heinen would like to return closer to that 20-goal mark versus the 10-goal mark while continuing to be a strong 200-foot player.
"I want to be able to play good offense and defense," said Heinen, who measures 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds. "I think I have more offensive ability than I've shown, and I'm hoping to rekindle that. I'm a reliable two-way forward who can be versatile and play up and down the lineup, wherever is needed."
A fresh start may be just what Heinen needs in order to recapture his best game, especially after everything he went through last season. He experienced the first trade of his career, from Boston to Anaheim, on Feb. 24, 2020 - right before the world essentially shut down due to COVID-19 in March.
So not only was Heinen trying to get adjusted to a new team and a new city for the first time in his NHL career, which was difficult enough in itself - he was doing it within the context of a global pandemic, which added layers of complexities to the situation.
"When the trade happened, it's a whirlwind in itself," Heinen said. "You're trying to find your way and then a pandemic comes along and kind of throws a bigger kink into things. So there's a lot of things going on.
"Now that the world's hopefully kind of - knock on wood - getting back to normal and everything, I'm really excited to get to Pittsburgh, have a good reset, a fresh start and be part of an exciting organization."
Heinen said that having some good conversations with Hextall were what ultimately convinced him that Pittsburgh was the right destination.
"It just seemed like a very intriguing place," Heinen said. "A team that's obviously very skilled and offensive and a well-run organization. It's a team that's always competitive and always in the hunt, so those things really excited me."
Heinen hasn't been to Pittsburgh since signing his contract the day after free agency opened, but Danton and his girlfriend Julie have found a place to live with the help of former Ducks teammate John Gibson and his wife Alexa, who are both from Whitehall. And Heinen does already know one person in the organization, as he goes way back with fellow British Columbia native Tristan Jarry.
"I grew up playing against Tristan," Heinen said. "I played a year of spring hockey with him on the same team, and that was in like Pee Wee. That's probably my biggest connection. I've met a few guys just in the hockey world a couple times. But I'm more just going to go in and meet everybody."
And Hextall is confident that Heinen will fit right in once he does arrive.
"We just feel like he's a good fit for our team," Hextall said. "He can kill penalties; he can play both wings. We feel it was a little bit of a value signing. So, hopefully, he can do what we expect him to do here."

SNAP SHOTS

• Danton's hockey nickname is "Heino." However, he said he used to be called "Heins" - which may need to make a comeback, considering Heinz Ketchup is pretty much synonymous with Pittsburgh.
  - Heinen's last name is Dutch, as his father Rick's parents were born in Holland, while his mother Veronica was actually born in Brazil.
  - Danton spends the offseason in Langley, British Columbia, which is where he was born and raised. When he's not spending time with family and friends, he likes to get out on the golf course. "Just like every hockey player," he joked.
  Heinen has been listening to the Barstool Sports golf podcast "Fore Play" a lot lately, and likes following Phil Mickelson since they're both left-handed. Heinen got the chance to play at California's Pebble Beach course when he was driving from Anaheim to British Columbia at the start of the offseason.
  - The Heinens have a family business in their native British Columbia called BC Greenhouse Builders, which manufactures backyard greenhouses. "It's been around for a long time. They had their 70th year this year," Heinen said. "I'd probably be working there if I wasn't playing hockey, to be honest. My dad's running it, but my brother and sister work in there, so it's in good hands. They don't need me. They always joke that I never worked there, but I put my time in sweeping floors (laughs)."