Jets Rumors: Former 1st-Round Pick Ville Heinola Done In Winnipeg?

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

The Winnipeg Jets appear to be nearing the end of the road with Ville Heinola. 

A 2019 first-round pick once viewed as a future top-four defenseman, Heinola has struggled to carve out a role in Winnipeg, held back by injuries and limited opportunities. Despite making the team as an 18-year-old and showing promise in the AHL, he has never been given an extended chance at the NHL level. 

This season, even after returning from an ankle injury suffered in training camp, Heinola has often been placed in unfavorable situations, including a brief stint playing on his off-side alongside Logan Stanley. 

Since Dylan Samberg’s return in January, he has been a healthy scratch for 11 of the last 13 games. “It’s been a tough two years for him,” head coach Scott Arniel said in November. “I’m probably his biggest fan here. I wanna see him.” 

But that belief has never translated into consistent playing time, and with the Jets prioritizing Stanley and Haydn Fleury as depth options, Heinola’s path to regular minutes appears all but closed.

The situation could become even more difficult as the trade deadline approaches. 

Winnipeg is expected to add defensive depth, which would push Heinola further down the pecking order. Keeping him as an eighth or ninth defenseman is impractical, especially since he is no longer waiver-exempt. 

If the Jets try to send him down, they risk losing him for nothing, making a trade the most logical move. The recent trade of Scott Perunovich for a conditional fifth-round pick sets a low market value, but even a modest return would be better than letting Heinola walk without compensation. 

Winnipeg is in win-now mode and will likely move multiple draft picks to strengthen the roster, meaning flipping Heinola for any asset could help replenish some of that capital.

At this point, both Heinola and the Jets would benefit from a fresh start. Winnipeg has defensive depth options like Dylan Coghlan and Isaak Phillips who fit the team’s current structure, while Heinola needs a team that will give him a real opportunity to establish himself. 

Some fans will argue he was never given a fair shot, but the reality is the Jets have moved in a different direction. 

With no clear role for him down the stretch, it’s time for Winnipeg to move on.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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