Stanley Cup final: two big defensive players

EDMONTON | There is the master and the apprentice. At 29, Victor Hedman has already carved his name on the Norris Trophy and he has carried the Tampa Bay Lightning on his heavy shoulders for several seasons. At just 21 years old, Miro Heiskanen doesn’t have the same resume yet, but he is doomed to an incredible career with the Dallas Stars.

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In a few days, one of the two defenders will lift the Stanley Cup. Whether it is a triumph of the Lightning or the Stars, it will be a first coronation for Hedman or Heiskanen.

In 2015, Hedman reached the final with the Lightning, which had lost in six games to the Blackhawks.

“I tasted the final once, but I ended up on the wrong side,” Hedman said. It took us five years to get another chance. I learned from this experience, I hope it will help us for this other final. Mentally, I know what to expect and I believe I will stay calm. To me, experience can always play a role. I now hope to have a different outcome in the final. “

After a game against the Stars, the Lightning already has a small slope to go up with a delay of 1 to 0. In the second round of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins, the Lightning had also stumbled in its first game. But Jon Cooper’s team had won the next four games to take out the Bruins in five.

Bowness’ compliment

Second overall pick in the 2009 draft, after John Tavares with the New York Islanders, Hedman rose to star status after a few seasons cutting his teeth in the NHL. The 6’6 ”, 229lb Swede had had fairly modest seasons of 20, 26 and 23 points in his first three years in Tampa. In his last four seasons, Hedman has consistently finished among the three finalists for the Norris, earning that honor in 2018. He is now a blue line model of stability.

“Victor is the best skater for a player of his greatness that I have seen,” said Rick Bowness hours before the first game of the final. This comment came from the mouth of a 65-year-old who has watched a ton of defenders since the 1970s as a player or coach.

Bowness led Hedman for five years in Tampa before moving to Dallas in 2018-19.

Heiskanen also gave flowers to Hedman.

“I like watching him play,” said the Finn. He is a very good player, a complete defender. It’s always nice to see him in action. “

Another big choice

Good defenders rarely fall from the sky. To get them, it often goes through the draft. Hedman and Heiskanen are good examples. Like the Lightning, the Stars received a nice gift by drafting Heiskanen with the third pick in 2017, just behind Nico Hischier (Devils) and Nolan Patrick (Flyers).

Unlike Hedman, who made the jump to the NHL at 18, Heiskanen waited another year before traveling to Dallas. However, he played with aplomb in his rookie year, obtaining 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 82 games. At the break from NHL activities on March 12, he already had 35 points (8 goals, 27 assists) in 68 games.

Heiskanen has never slowed down since the start of the playoffs. He finds himself at the top of the Stars’ scorers with 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists) in 22 games. He is therefore producing at a breakneck pace of just over a point per game. That’s a little more than Hedman’s 15 points (9 goals, 6 assists) after 20 games with the Lightning.

“When he came to his first camp with the Stars two years ago, it was immediately clear that he had enormous potential,” said Bowness. He is remarkably calm for such a young defender. When there is nothing that works for our team, we give the puck to Miro. He wants to be on the ice for the crucial moments and to transport the team. It shows the type of player he is. “

In the battle for compliments, Hedman was also a good player.

“Miro is a very good skater, he slides very smoothly. He does not need to force. He is a big reason for the success of the Stars. For a young defender, it’s difficult to be consistent and play in all situations. But Miro is already doing it. It’s impressive. “