Langley's Danton Heinen is coming home to B.C.
On Canada Day, Vancouver Canucks signed Heinen to a two-year contract worth $4.5 million.
It was the realization of a long-held dream for the forward and his parents, Rick and Veronica Heinen, who have been Vancouver Canucks season ticket holders since 1995, the same year their son was born.
"From being local, being around here, growing up, watching the team, it's obviously a place I wanted to play one day," Heinen commented in a Canucks video following the announcement.
"The culture, the people, that's something they're growing here that I want to be a part of," he said.
"So excited to be part of the group."
The Langley, B.C.-born forward, who will turn 29 before the season, had 36 points in 74 games last season. Heinen's contract will keep him in Vancouver until 2026.
In his first and only year in the BCHL as captain of the Surrey Eagles, a teenage Heinen won the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as league Rookie of the Year, as well as the Bob Fenton Trophy as the most sportsmanlike Player.
He followed that with a two-season-tour with the University of Denver Pioneers men’s hockey team for two seasons before he turned pro, inking a contract with the Boston Bruins, which picked him in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
The 6’2”, 195 lb. forward has played 487 career regular season games split between Boston, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh, recording 212 points (87-125-212), 100 penalty minutes, and a +26 plus/minus rating. In 48 career playoff matchups, Heinen has posted 13 points (6-7-13), eight penalty minutes, and a +5 plus/minus rating.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced the deal.
“Danton’s skill set will fit in nicely with the way we want to play hockey,” said Allvin. “His speed and ability to kill penalties will be a big boost for our group. We also feel he can contribute offensively, move up and down the lineup from time to time, and use his body and size to his advantage.”
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