Emil Heineman emerges as surprise key contributor for Islanders with big names out

With the possible exceptions of Mathieu Darche and Emil Heineman, even the most optimistic believer in the latter’s potential did not expect this sort of output when Heineman was put into the trade that sent Noah Dobson to Montreal on draft night.The 24-year-old Heineman was coming off a strong rookie year in which he’d established himself as an effective fourth-line wrecking ball who could give opposing teams problems.He’d scored 10 goals in 62 games, averaged 11:24 of ice time and given himself plenty to build on.“We see potential,” Darche said on draft night, in the sort of quote that looks very good for a rookie general manager to have pinned to his first-ever trade.

“He’s a strong kid that skates great, he’s got a rocket of a shot.If you look at his goals, it’s a high-velocity shot that can score.

We see a lot of potential in this player.”From the outside, the idea was that Heineman, whom Darche had pushed for in a deal that also brought back two first-round picks, would turn into an effective bottom-six player for the Islanders, the sort of guy who could compete hard and help give the team an identity.Thirty-four games in and that has been wildly, hilariously wrong.Heineman has been in the top six for all 34 games and, though all of the above about his ability to play physically and cause problems for the opponent is true, he’s also scoring at a 26-goal pace.

In barely over half the games, he’s passed his goals total from all of last season, scoring No.11 in Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to the Red Wings.In other words, the combination of Heineman’s own play and circumstances has conspired to make the Swede a vital piece for the Islanders.“Try to contribute in any way,” Heineman said in Detroit on Tuesday night.

“Try to use my shot, my skating, use my 200-foot game pretty much.Trying to build.

It’s obviously a nice feeling.But today we wanted that win.”Heineman’s goal on Tuesday broke an eight-game stretch without a poi...