The AHL’s Cleveland Monsters announced Tuesday that the Blue Jackets loaned forward Danton Heinen to the Monsters. Heinen was acquired by Columbus via trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday alongside a 2026 second-round and 2027 third-round pick in the NHL Draft in exchange for right wing Yegor Chinakhov. In 13 NHL appearances for Pittsburgh this season, Heinen posted 1-1-2 with eight penalty minutes and a +1 rating and added 6-11-17 with six penalty minutes and a +10 rating in 12 AHL appearances for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

A 6’1”, 190 lb. left-shooting native of Langley, BC, Heinen, 30, was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2024 through the 2025-26 season. In 579 career NHL appearances for Boston, the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver spanning parts of ten seasons from 2016-25, Heinen logged 97-146-243 with 139 penalty minutes and a +29 rating. In 82 career AHL appearances for the Providence Bruins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton spanning parts of four seasons from 2016-18 and 2025-26, Heinen supplied 21-50-71 with 24 penalty minutes and a +17 rating. Heinen represented Providence at the 2016-17 AHL All-Star Game.

In 81 career NCAA appearances for the University of Denver spanning two seasons from 2014-16, Heinen notched 36-57-93 with 20 penalty minutes and a +38 rating. In 2015-16, Heinen was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team and claimed NCHC Forward of the Year honors. In 2014-15, Heinen was named to the NCHC All-Rookie and Second All-Star Teams and claimed NCHC Rookie of the Year honors. 

Prior to his collegiate career, Heinen supplied 29-35-64 with eight penalty minutes in 59 career BCHL appearances for the Merritt Centennials and Surrey Eagles spanning parts of two seasons from 2012-14. In 2013-14, Heinen wore the captain’s “C” for Surrey, won the Bob Fenton (BCHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player) and Bruce Allison Memorial (BCHL Rookie of the Year) Trophies, and was named to the BCHL All-Rookie Team. 

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