One of the first trades made by Kent Hughes is proving to be successful
The trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames on February 14 2022 is proving to be a brilliant move by Kent Hughes.
As seen on Habs Fanatics, while the deal initially revolved around moving Tyler Toffoli to Calgary, the long-term potential of Emil Heineman is now stealing the spotlight.
In exchange for Toffoli, Montreal received Tyler Pitlick, a 2022 first-round pick that became Filip Mesar, a 2023 fifth-round pick and Emil Heineman.
At the time, the first-round selection was considered the most valuable asset but it's now Emil Heineman who is turning heads with his steady development and impressive performance in the NHL.
Currently ranking third among NHL rookies in goals scored, Emil Heineman is making a name for himself as an impactful, two-way forward.
His 200-foot game shows his polyvalence and is earning him trust from the coaching staff and Despite limited ice time Emil Heineman has scored 16 points in 36 games this season.
Emil Heineman's performance places him ahead of big NHL names like Filip Forsberg in rookie scoring rankings.
His ceiling is promising at just 23 years old and particularly if he earns more ice time or is promoted to a higher line.
While Filip Mesar's development is still unfolding and Tyler Pitlick served his role effectively during his stint, Emil Heineman's emergence solidifies this deal as one of Kent Hughes' most successful moves.
And now the Montreal Canadiens fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Emil Heineman's future contributions to the team and in the rebuild.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Emil Heineman will be in the long-term plan for the Montreal Canadiens? | ||
| Yes | 216 | 90.8 % |
| No | 22 | 9.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
