We live in a world where this league has a lot of high-profile defencemen. Everyone knows about Cale Makar, Adam Fox, Roman Josi, Charlie McAvoy, and Victor Hedman. A player that seems to fly under the radar is Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen. Heiskanen is great defensively, but the kid has the tools offensively. This is the year that Miro Heiskanen breaks out into an offensive year.
Miro Heiskanen is poised to have a breakout season. With former teammate John Klingberg signing with the Anaheim Ducks, it opens the door for opportunity. After being stuck in a defensive structure under former head coach Rick Bowness, he is now under a more offensive scheme under new coach Peter DeBoer.
Dallas Stars Defenceman Miro Heiskanen Ready For Offensive Explosion
Miro Heiskanen Stats
I'm not sure why Heiskanen has been nowhere to be seen in the Norris conversation this season (well, that's not true, I know it's points).
He's been elite at both ends of the ice this season, a huge leap forward. #Texashockey https://t.co/V3KTZTfvZf pic.twitter.com/hvRtQAmyxA
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 6, 2022
Heiskanen is coming off his best season. To begin his career, he posted points of 33 and 35, but this season he had a career-best. In 70 games, he scored five goals, 31 assists and 36 points. He should get more power play time with the departure of Klingberg. Heiskanen scored three power-play goals (tied for 13th in the league among defensemen). He should see top unit powerplay minutes, really setting him up for success offensively if he can return to it. With his 2019-20 post-season form, which saw him score 26 points in 27 games, Dallas will be in great shape on the back end.
The DeBoer Effect
DeBoer was fired midway through the 2019-20 season. What he has noticeably done as a coach is getting the most production out of the back end. For example; during his tenure with the San Jose Sharks you saw a spike in Brent Burns‘s production. From 2015-19, Burns would go on to post point totals of 75, 76, 67, and 83 (career high). He would set a career-high in goals with 29 in 2016-17. Burns was always a great player, but he saw his best production under DeBoer.
Miro Heiskanen already has 10 assists this postseason
The franchise record is 12
This kid’s good 👍 pic.twitter.com/AshruYkhCR
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 23, 2020
He took that same capability to the Vegas Golden Knights. The player that broke out would be Shea Theodore. After underperforming with the Ducks, he took flight in Vegas. Under DeBoer, he posted point totals of 46, 42, and 52 (career best). He also set a career-high in goals this season with 14. In addition to producing under DeBoer, he has led the Golden Knights in points among defensemen the last three seasons.
Final Thoughts
The new offensive system should benefit the Dallas Stars defenceman. And with that, he is poised to have a breakout season. As shown above, this same effect can impact Heiskanen and take his game to another level. Arguably one of the most underrated defencemen in this league but will now put the league on notice. Heiskanen will be put in place to succeed offensively and will now have the ability to showcase his talents. The Stars do have talent and this young gun is one of them. Like all other blueliners under DeBoer, Heiskanen will have a breakout season.
Heiskanen will have his name in the Norris conversation. NHL.com predicts 49 points, do not let it alarm you if it’s north of that.
