Canadiens’ Emil Heineman to return for regular-season finale

As the Montreal Canadiens push to secure their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the club will have a reinforced lineup for Wednesday’s regular-season finale versus the Carolina Hurricanes as left winger Emil Heineman is set to return, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.

Sidelined for the past five games due to an upper-body injury, Heineman has made 61 appearances with the Canadiens this season in which he has tallied 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points coupled with 20 penalty minutes and a minus-six rating. Of note, Heineman also missed a 14-game stretch through mid-February after being hit by a car in Salt Lake City prior to a road game versus the Utah Hockey Club.

Skating in his first full season with the Canadiens, the 23-year-old Swedish-born forward was previously acquired from the Calgary Flames ahead of the 2022 NHL trade deadline as part of the deal that saw the club part with fellow forward Tyler Toffoli. Heineman was originally chosen 43rd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Beyond his time with the Canadiens, Heineman has also spent part of two seasons with the AHL affiliated Laval Rocket where through 59 career contests he has recorded 22 goals and 16 assists for 38 points. At the NHL level, Heineman has tallied 18 points in 65 total appearances.

Per PuckPedia, Heineman is in the final year of a three-year pact that carries an $897,500 annual average value and is eligible to become a restricted free agent this coming offseason.

For the Canadiens, on the season the club stands 39-31-11, while securing a lone point Wednesday versus the Hurricanes would see the squad lock up the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference and set up a first-round matchup against the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2021.