Prospect Ville Heinola is headed back to the show, the National Hockey League that is.
With defenceman Neal Pionk suspended for one more game, and also on the NHL’s concussion protocol, the Winnipeg Jets were in desperate need of an extra blueliner and will receive just that during their upcoming road trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Thus far, Heinola, 20, has spent the entire 2021-22 campaign with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, where he’s already appeared in 18 games. During that span, the 6’0″ blueliner has posted two goals and 14 points, including four multi-point performances.
At this current moment, it remains unclear if the former first-round selection will make NHL season debut during the first or second half of Winnipeg’s upcoming back-to-back series, which begins against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Whenever Heinola enters the line-up, odds are he’ll be inserted in place of veteran Nathan Beaulieu, likely allowing the younger defender to be paired next to Dylan DeMelo.
The Jets will be aiming to start their two-game road trip on a positive note when they take on the Kraken at 9:00 pm CT.
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