Heinola believes added muscle will help him reach new heights

WINNIPEG - Ville Heinola had a good summer. He looks bigger and stronger, and yet he hasn't lost any of the speed that makes his ability to spin away from checks and get the puck up ice look so effortless.
"I think that's a good thing," said Heinola with a smile, just minutes after he wrapped up his second day at Winnipeg Jets Pro Mini Camp.
The Winnipeg Jets' first round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft is hoping that summer of work pays off when training camp gets underway. He knows that if he plays in the National Hockey League or the American Hockey League, it will be beneficial for him.

Still, it doesn't hurt to have goals. That's what has helped the 20-year-old defenceman get this far in his career.
"The main thing is that I can show those guys that I can really play out there, I can do things there. I want to really show up there this year," said Heinola. "When you get a chance to play in the NHL, it shows what you have to get better at and what you have to do to have success there. I think that's always a nice thing when you get the chance to play there, you know what to focus on."

He's more comfortable around his teammates now than ever before. He knows that the additions of Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillon on the blue line means the Jets have more options, he's not focused on that.
Instead, Heinola is focused on what he can control - his own game.
"I just try to focus on what's going to happen next," he said. "I like my game with the puck. I don't think I had the confidence when I played those NHL games. I didn't have that real chance to show what I can do. In the minors, I did well with the puck and I had some good minutes, and I played well on the power play."
Heinola had 11 points in 19 games with the Manitoba Moose in 2020-21 and played in five games with the Jets.
He believes his new muscle will help him in areas away from the score sheet as well.
"When I know I'm going into the corner, I know I'm not going to be the one laying down all the time. That makes me more confident," he said. "The main thing is to get stronger, but also I don't want to lose any speed."