The 2023 NHL Draft class has been heralded as one of the best we have seen in a very, very long time. But what has been missing from the first 30 or so picks has been a true pest.
A teenaged prospect that despite not even being fully developed as a hockey player just thrives in a situation to get under their opponent’s skin and is able to annoy the hell out of any defenders. Fortunately for us, we get to think and talk and watch clips of Riley Heidt from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars to serve that purpose.
Heidt isn’t at the same bone-headed level of Nashville Predators prospect Zachary L’Heureux, who loves to get suspended several times in the QMJHL every season, but there is a tenacity and bite to Heidt’s game that could let scouts fall in love with him and take him higher than projected.
Pre-Draft Rankings
No. 21 (North American Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
No. 32 by Bob McKenzie
No. 27 by EliteProspects
No. 21 by FC Hockey
Statistics
It’s not just energy and being emotional (in a good way) on the ice, but Heidt can legit produce points. The 5-foot-10 forward from Saskatoon has scored at a reliable clip for his WHL career and just capped it off with 25 goals and 97 points in 68 games. He didn’t lead the team in either category, but was one of the top draft-eligible scorers in the WHL.
Even going back further, Heidt’s 0.89 points per game in the year before his draft year is one of the best in the league’s history. The recent track record of all-time prospects coming out of the WHL doesn’t make Heidt look good among his peers, but in their age-16 seasons, outscored current NHL players like Kirby Dach, Brayden Point, Kailer Yamamoto, Jordan Eberle, Peyton Krebs, Logan Stankoven – just to name a few.
Heidt is able to get a hell of a lot of points, but what exactly does he do to earn this production?
What’s there to like?
Along with the pure energy that Heidt seems to bring whenever he is on the ice, he also just happens to be very skilled. An entire package of work ethic and the raw talent to justify said work ethic feels like just the right amount of mixture to make it as a professional hockey player.
Heidt is able to weave his way into open ice, go under the radar for the defenders until he needs to pounce on a loose puck or tap it in right in front of the netminder. There is an elusive part of Heidt’s game that might not be super tangible, but the way that he can just find the uncovered pockets easily and get the majority of his points from the high-danger area is key.
With 3 primary assists last night, Riley Heidt broke the all-time single-season assist record for the Prince George Cougars (60).
He's up to 22 goals and 82 points in 60 games on the season – 3rd among DY skaters and 6th among all WHLers. pic.twitter.com/sy8kaVK8KJ
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) March 9, 2023
Heidt got a whole lot of his production on the power play this season – even more than Connor Bedard did for Regina – so there could be some inflated overall production because of it, but power plays also happen in professional hockey so it’s still a tool that the young forward has that will be used.
He is simply dominant on the cycle when his team is set up in the offensive zone – always keeping his head up and being engaged with the play and sometimes leading the way with checks, passes, swift skating, and all the great things you need for a modern forward in a well-structured system to flourish. And, as a bonus, he is just that right amount of nasty to become a fan favorite.
What’s not to like?
As much as Heidt explodes offensively and if given an inch, he’ll take a mile of ice in the offensive zone, the way he gets his production and his overall game is too similar to players that we have seen in the past and fail to really make it as professional players.
Jake Virtanen scored 45 goals in his draft year because of being a power play point-getter, for an example as a player in the WHL that was known for physicality, drafted in the first round, put up enough points, but is a really bad hockey player.
We know that Heidt has shown his talent offensively, but he also has a lack of the same effort put into the defensive side of his game. Although, just with knowing how much he can care about possession in one of the zones, with the right coach and development, he should be able to spread that energy into all three, one would hope.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
He would honestly fit pretty damn well. Heidt has the physical nature that a whole lot of teams – especially the Flyers – care about while also having the skill offensively. He has the skill to thrive and to at least be a contributor that they got not at the very top of the draft.
Heidt would need to grow into his frame a little bit better to be able to bring the same energy at the next level, but if he does that, then he would be a nice piece of what the Flyers are building with Cutter Gauthier and Tyson Foerster leading the charge.
Can the Flyers actually get him?
Heidt should be available at 22nd overall, but it would be just if the Flyers want him that badly. He has been projected to go several spots later by some scouts, so in this scenario, if the Flyers trade down from 22 to get into the second round, then Heidt could be a solid option at the end of Wednesday’s draft or right at the beginning of Thursday.
What scouts are saying
Nasty physically, despite his 5-foot-11 frame, Heidt has the handling, shooting, and vision to inflict major damage on opponents. He takes the extra stride to play the body, never passes up an opportunity to sneak in a shot behind the play, and is an enthusiastic combatant in scrums. On retrievals, Heidt establishes inside positioning early, drives through opponents’ hands, and separates them from the puck. And the use of contact to create space in the small area game allows him to spin off of defensive pressure and attack the inside. -EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide
Heidt’s versatility is his bread and butter, as he can play in any scenario. Down a goal, up a goal, on the power play or the penalty kill, coaches aren’t concerned when Heidt hops over the boards, and rightly so. His feistiness makes him a truly impressive forechecker. He boasts solid board-battle mechanics as well, making him a headache for opposing defenders below their goal line. There are also some very alluring elements to his playmaking, namely a wide array of passes and solid scanning habits, although his shot is just slightly above-average for this class. As he stands, Heidt’s ceiling projects him as a checking center with both high-end defensive capabilities and the playmaking/skill combo to hold down a second-line role. Think Yanni Gourde with better hands and passing.– Dobber Prospects
For a forward on the smaller side of things Heidt plays with a sneaky amount of bite. He doesn’t go out of his way to engage with opponents physically and keeps his game more to the outside than the inside, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in his case considering his physique and skillset, but he can be a real prick to play against at times. He knows how to get away with little hacks and whacks without the refs noticing and will get chippy in post-whistle scrums. He can really get under people’s skin, and so far he’s managed to stay on the right side of the pest line. When a team is deep in the playoffs, they need guys who can find that extra bit of juice in order to be successful, and Heidt seems like he will be that kind of player. – McKeen’s 2023 Draft Guide
No more polls, folks! Friday’s helped us set the order for our final group of players, so it’s all coasting from here. Thanks for participating!
Previously on the 2023 Community Draft Board…
- Connor Bedard
- Adam Fantilli
- Matvei Michkov
- Leo Carlsson
- Will Smith
- Zach Benson
- Oliver Moore
- Dalibor Dvorsky
- Ryan Leonard
- Eduard Sale
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka
- David Reinbacher
- Nate Danielson
- Gabe Perreault
- Brayden Yager
- Matthew Wood
- Samuel Honzek
- Colby Barlow
- Andrew Cristall
- Daniil But
- Calum Ritchie
- Mikhail Gulyayev
- Gavin Brindley
- Dmitri Simashev
- Gracyn Sawchyn
- Quentin Musty
- Ethan Gauthier
- Oliver Bonk
- Bradly Nadeau
- Lukas Dragicevic
- Riley Heidt
- …
