Danton Heinen

Lore & Background

Heinen was born in Langley, British Columbia, to parents Rick and Veronica; his father is of Dutch heritage and his mother immigrated from Brazil. He is the middle child of four siblings, with an older brother Cody who also played hockey. Heinen played junior hockey with the Richmond Sockeyes in the Pacific Junior Hockey League and later in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Merritt Centennials and Surrey Eagles. After high school, he earned a scholarship to play for the Denver Pioneers, where he was named NCHC Rookie of the Year in 2014–15 and NCHC Forward of the Year in 2015–16. He concluded his collegiate career in 2016 by signing an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins.

Heinen spent his first three professional seasons moving between the Bruins' AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, and the NHL level before becoming a mainstay on the Bruins' lineup during the 2018–19 season. On February 24, 2020, during his fourth season with Boston, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Nick Ritchie. He scored his first goal with the Ducks on February 29, 2020, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished the 2020–21 season with Anaheim recording seven goals and 14 points in 43 games. As a pending restricted free agent, the Ducks did not tender him a qualifying offer, and he was released to free agency on July 27, 2021.

Reader's Guide

Heinen's tenure with the Anaheim Ducks was brief, spanning only the 2020–21 season after being acquired at the NHL trade deadline in February 2020. He was unable to match his previous offensive production with the Ducks, recording seven goals and 14 points in 43 games. The Ducks chose not to tender him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, making him an unrestricted free agent in July 2021. He then signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His time in Anaheim is notable as a short stop in a career that saw him move between several NHL teams, including the Bruins, Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus Blue Jackets. Heinen's collegiate accolades—NCHC Rookie of the Year and NCHC Forward of the Year—highlight his offensive potential, though his NHL production has been inconsistent.

Did You Know?

• Heinen was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round, 116th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
• Heinen was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on February 24, 2020, in exchange for Nick Ritchie.