Miro Heiskanen (born 18.7.1999) is a Finnish ice hockey defenseman. He has been playing in the NHL since 2018 and he has played his early career with the Dallas Stars. Heiskanen is ranked in top ten European defensemen in NHL by many ice hockey experts, even he is only 21 years old!
Early Career
Miro Heiskanen started his junior career with Espoo Blues, but moved to HIFK. In season 2015-16, he played in HIFK at Jr. A level and won rookie of the year award. On 30.5.2016, he signed 3-year contract extension with HIFK. In season 2016-17, Heiskanen played full season with HIFK in the Finnish Liiga. He was only 17-years old but played very good season – HIFK’s head coach Antti Törmänen even said, that Heiskanen was team’s best defenseman in that season.
Heiskanen was drafted 3rd overall in the 2017 NHL draft by Dallas Stars. On 8.7.2017, Heiskanen signed three-year entry level contract with the Stars. Even Heiskanen had a contract with the Stars, he decided to play one more year with HIFK. Heiskanen had some injury problems during the season 2017-18 and he played only 30 games – still he made most points by HIFK’s defensemen. HIFK won bronze medals and Heiskanen won Pekka Rautakallio – award as the best defenseman of the Liiga.
Dallas Stars
Miro Heiskanen made his NHL debut on 4.10.2018 against Arizona Coyotes. On 25.10.2018, Heiskanen made his first goal in the NHL against Anaheim Ducks. Heiskanen was named to the 2019 NHL All-Star game. He finished regular season with 33 (12+21) points and made 2+2 points in the 2019 NHL playoffs (Dallas Stars lost 4-3 second round to the St. Louis Blues – the Blues won Stanley Cup 2019). When writing this, season 2019-20 is middle of playoffs – Miro Heiskanen has already made 16 (3+13) points and broke all Stars’ franchise records for most points made by defenseman in playoffs.
International Play
Miro Heiskanen won a gold medal in the 2016 and a silver medal in the 2017 IIHF World U18 Ice Hockey Championships. He played also twice in World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (2017 and 2018), but Team Finland did not win any medals. He made his Finnish senior team debut in 2018. Miro Heiskanen was selected for Team Finland in the 2018 IIHF World Championships and 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.