Bruins again deliver ahead Danton Heinen on PTO deal

Bruins

In 220 profession video games with the Bruins, Heinen scored 34 objectives and posted 103 factors.

Boston Bruins center Danton Heinen (43) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Detroit.
Danton Heinen beforehand performed with the Bruins from 2016-20. AP Picture/Paul Sancya

The Bruins are bringing again an outdated buddy as Don Sweeney continues to stockpile depth on the ahead place.

Boston introduced Tuesday afternoon that it signed former Bruin Danton Heinen to knowledgeable tryout contract.

The 28-year-old Heinen was initially drafted by Boston in 2014 and spent components of 4 seasons with the Bruins from 2016-20. In 220 profession video games with the Bruins, Heinen scored 34 objectives and posted 103 factors, serving as a flexible ahead throughout the lineup.

Boston ultimately traded Heinen to the Geese on the 2020 commerce deadline for Nick Ritchie. After one other season in Anaheim, Heinen spent two years with the Penguins, scoring a career-high 18 objectives in 2021-22 in Pittsburgh earlier than seeing his numbers dip to 22 factors over 65 video games in 2022-23.

Even along with his lackluster displaying final season, the Bruins will attempt to rekindle a few of Heinen’s manufacturing along with his unique membership.

Heinen’s greatest season (47 factors in 77 video games) got here with the Bruins through the 2017-18 season, and he was a key cog on a 3rd line subsequent to Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson throughout Boston’s 2019 Cup run.

Alongside along with his familiarity in Boston, Heinen has loads of ties to Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery, as he performed for him on the College of Denver from 2014-16.

Heinen was primarily deployed as a fourth-line asset final season in Pittsburgh however nonetheless put up strong numbers at 5v5 play as a gentle two-way contributor, which is par for the course for his complete profession.

His means to play each left wing and proper wing might open up extra alternatives as Montgomery and his employees attempt to roll out the very best bottom-six personnel this season.

The Bruins’ choice to usher in yet one more PTO after signing veteran ahead Alex Chiasson to the same contract final month falls consistent with Boston’s technique of leaving no stone unturned for ahead depth. 

Although gamers like Milan Lucic, Morgan Geekie, and Trent Frederic appear to be penciled in for beginning spots someplace additional down the depth chart, the Bruins nonetheless have just a few extra vacancies obtainable on each the third and fourth strains. 

Together with Heinen and Chiasson, the Bruins additionally produce other free-agent pickups in Jesper Boqvist and Patrick Brown, returning wingers in A.J. Greer and Jakub Lauko, and youthful gamers making an attempt to crack the roster like Georgii Merkulov, Marc McLaughlin, Johnny Beecher and John Farinacci.