There are truths that we fear to pronounce and truths that we end up accepting as obvious. And Martin St-Louis, in his usual frank manner, has just dropped a subtle but no less explosive bomb on Emil Heineman.
Because yes, if you thought everything was rosy in Emil’s world, think again. Between strokes of brilliance and strokes of bad luck, his journey is a roller coaster that leaves no one indifferent.
From the start, St-Louis put its cards on the table: “Émile, he knows what he is. He didn’t have an identity crisis. »
And there, pause. A rookie without an identity crisis in the NHL is a bit like finding a hot dog without mustard at a game at the Bell Center: it exists, but it’s rare.
Heineman understood something that many young players take years to grasp: There’s no point trying to be something you’re not.
No need to play sniper when you’re not one. No need to try to be the hero when your role is to fight for every puck and make life hell for your opponents.
And that’s precisely what makes it unique. “He keeps things simple a lot,” added St-Louis, almost admiringly. There is nothing flamboyant in his game, but everything is effective.
With 10 goals and 7 assists in 41 games this season, Heineman isn’t the one you’ll mention in Calder Trophy conversations, but there’s no denying he’s an essential piece in the Canadiens’ puzzle.
Unfortunately, fate decided to play a nasty trick on him. Hit by a car in Salt Lake City, Heineman found himself out of the lineup for three to four weeks. Ironically, it was not on the ice that he was hit, but while crossing a street. “He got hit by a tank. It wasn’t a high-speed collision, but enough that he’s going to miss some time,” St-Louis said.
And here, we can’t help but think that bad luck has a particularly cruel sense of humor.
But what is impressive about all this is the way St. Louis talks about its player. There is a real admiration for Heineman’s resilience and his impact on the team.
“He brought a lot to the team, but the rest of us will continue to do what we do,” he insisted. No panic, no drama, just a sincere recognition of what the young Swede brings to the group.
And let’s be honest, losing a player like Heineman is something no team likes to deal with. With his consistency and ability to excel in his role, he has become a key piece in the lineup.
Even his opponents must secretly sigh with relief at the news that he will be away for a while.
But let’s go back for a moment to the path he took to get there. Because yes, Emil Heineman was not necessarily obvious at the start of the season.
-St-Louis himself says it: “At first I wasn’t really sure. You know there are strengths he has. You don’t know how he’s going to put it all together and contribute. »
Translation: we didn’t really know what to do with him. And yet, Heineman managed to prove that he had his place. He relied on his strengths, speed, physicality, and precise shooting to carve out a tailor-made role for himself.
And perhaps that is the real lesson of this story. Heineman never tried to do too much. He simply played his role to perfection, becoming a nightmare for his opponents and a blessing for his teammates.
“It’s tiring for the other team,” St-Louis pointed out. And one can easily imagine opposing defenders rolling their eyes every time they hear his name.
But make no mistake: this article is not a simple ode to Emil Heineman. It’s also a reflection on what it means to be a player in the NHL today.
Because in a league where flashy talents and inflated statistics are often celebrated, Heineman reminds us that hockey remains a team sport.
And that sometimes, the real hero is the one who does the dirty work without seeking the spotlight.
So what does the future hold for Emil Heineman? Hard to say. His injury is a setback, but not an end in itself.
And if there’s one thing that Martin St-Louis has taught us, it’s that he firmly believes in his player. “He won’t miss much time,” he repeated, as if to reassure us.
And we have every reason to believe that Heineman will come back even stronger, ready to prove that he is more than just a piece in the scheme.
In the meantime, it remains to be hoped that the Canadian will be able to fill his absence. But one thing is certain: Emil Heineman has already proven that he is a safe bet.
And even if he doesn’t make the headlines, it’s clear that he has become indispensable to his team. So when he comes back, don’t be surprised to see him pick up right where he left off.
Because that’s what Emil Heineman is: a player who knows what he is, and who doesn’t need to be anything else to be exceptional.
Amen
