Preparation for the upcoming NHL season is in full swing, as the Regular Season starts on October 10. Urheilu met the Dallas Stars Miro Heiskanenwho scored a whopping 73 power points from the defender position in the regular season last season.
Heiskanen has recovered from a long season in Finland, but training could not be completely forgotten in the summer, as NHL clubs’ training camps start already in September.
Dallas’ excellent last season crumbled in Game 7 of the conference finals with a 0-6 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas overthrew Dallas with a 4–2 match win and eventually progressed to the championship. The Stanley Cup Finals were within reach of the star jerseys, so the team’s disappointment was commensurate.
– Yes, it always takes a while, because it was a big disappointment and the place in the final was so close. You can’t worry about that, though, because the next season is coming quickly.
Ending the season in the conference finals left Dallas hungry for the season to begin.
– If we can make it work from the beginning of the season, we have every chance of going all the way there.
The 24-year-old Heiskanen has established himself among the NHL’s elite defensemen. With his 73 power points last season, he left the page Reijo Ruotsalainen Finnish defenders’ one-season point record from the 1984–1985 season.
In Heiskanen’s personal development goals, one thing rises above the others.
– I myself have always been more of a passer and I like to share the puck, but next season I want to score more goals.
Lehkonen: “If you don’t shoot, there will be no goals”
Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen analyzes Heiskanen’s goal.
– One thing that lags behind his other areas is his shot. Heiskanen has realized that by developing it, the player’s scoring will improve.
Lehkonen’s attention is focused on the flexibility of modern hockey sticks and the benefit that can be obtained from it.
– They are like springs. When you get proper weight on the racket, you can use all the power in the shot.
It’s also about passing defensive players, which has to start from the spinal cord.
– Defensive play in the NHL has developed enormously. There is stick defense, blocking players and goaltenders who are pretty good in the NHL.
According to Lehkonen, in Heiskanen’s case, it is emphasized how he is able to pass the defensive players using his movement and his quick and accurate shot.
Lehkonen reminds that Heiskanen has only been able to play one season on the line of Dallas’ number one supremacy.
– One big tip is that you should shoot even more. If you don’t shoot, there will be no goals. The strokes should also not be left along the way and should be directed between the posts.
Last season Erik Karlsson won the pack’s goal and point exchange with huge power 25+76=101. The Swede shot 209 times, while Heiskanen’s count was 206.
However, according to Lehkonen, Heiskanen has such an eye for the game that he is able to make a decision between a pass or a teammate’s better goal position.
– Heiskanen is too much of a teammate who wants to share successes with others. Such a traditional Raimo Helminen a stylish player as a kit, for whom a great pass is better than a bad goal. Now that thought has to be reversed when the opponent knows that he is serving a lot.
Heiskanen should pay attention to these issues right from the beginning of the season.
Heiskanen misses Väänänen’s positive malice
In Lehkonen’s opinion, young Heiskanes highlights the best qualities of the three Finnish defensive legends.
– Teppo Numminen playing position, passing skills and receiving the puck, Kimmo Timonen movement as well as Janne Niinimaan breaking passes.
But there is room for improvement.
– Even if he could play dueling near the wings Ossi Väänänen like positive malice.
In Lehkonen’s view, the 24-year-old Heiskanen will be a top 3 defenseman in the NHL for a long time. In the expert’s estimation, Heiskanen will take the point record for defenders in his own name next season. There are even expectations for a point-per-game season.
– Let’s say a season of around 90 points. There are at least 25 of these goals.
Reijo Ruotsalainen’s 73 power points were 28 goals.
– When there are a little more annual rings, we will go to 30 goals.
According to Lehkonen, such a season can be seen within five years.