There's a buzz in the air, and Miro Heiskanen is feeling it

FRISCO, Texas --After a tiring day of training camp earlier this week, Miro Heiskanen exited the ice and had one thing on his mind: Tex-Mex. It wasn't a matter of when for the laid-back 22-year-old defenseman, but more like where. It's been a staple of his diet ever since he came to Dallas in the summer of 2018, and Heiskanen still can't get enough of it.

"I love Tex-Mex," he said, as his group was finishing up around lunchtime. "Tacos and burritos, just the basics. Spicy." If it was up to him, he'd likely eat it every day. Instead, it serves as a meal to enjoy in moderation. Though he'll occasionally stray away from it for other local favorites, the heart -- or in this case, the stomach -- knows what it wants. "Barbecue is good, too," he said. "But I'm a Tex-Mex guy."
Such is the life for the fleet-footed, dynamic defenseman who's on the cusp of joining the NHL's elite on the blueline. Ever since he broke into the league three years ago, Heiskanen's been one of the NHL's rising stars. He fits the mold of the "modern day defenseman," but takes it to another level. His skating and skill allow him to make plays others can't, and his ability to join the rush is very much worth seeing. There simply aren't many defensemen like him in the game right now.
There's a lot more to Heiskanen than meets the eye. He's a man of simple tastes. When he's not at the rink, he's likely spending time with his two Pomeranians Leo and Max. Or he's challenging his friends to online multiplayer. "I play video games," he said. "NHL, FIFA, NBA. I'm a big sports-game guy."
When it comes to music, Heiskanen doesn't have a favorite genre, but he does have a favorite band. "I like everything," he said. "Sometimes I want to listen to some Finnish music. Other times it's a rap day or rock day. It all depends. I like all kinds, but my favorite rock band is probably AC/DC. Old school."
It's been a few months since Heiskanen signed an eight-year contract extension worth $67.6 million, but the thought of his long-term deal has him just as excited now as it did in mid-July. There's no question he loves Dallas.

"I wanted to be a big part of the Stars, so I signed a long-term deal," he said. "I'm really happy here. The first three years have been great. I love the city and the team, so that's why I want to stay long term."
Having fellow Finns on the team certainly doesn't hurt, either.
"I like it a lot," said Heiskanen, on having enough Finns on the team for a starting lineup (not including the goalie). "You can speak Finnish and hang out with them. All of them are great guys. We spend a lot of time together. It's fun to have them here and not have to be the only Finn."
The newest member to the group, Jani Hakanpää, was a player Heiskanen had only played against. Since convening for camp, the two have grown close.
"We played against each other before, but never together, so I didn't really know him," Heiskanen said. "He's a good player. I've seen him play. Great player."
Some interesting defensive pairings have emerged from training camp, notably Ryan Suter with John Klingberg and Heiskanen alongside Esa Lindell. Regardless of pairings, that group of four is arguably one of the strongest foursomes in the league. Heiskanen says he's enjoying his time with Lindell so far.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "Esa's to learn more!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara* is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.