Miro Heiskanen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miro Heiskanen
Heiskanen with the Dallas Stars in 2023
Born	(1999-07-18) 18 July 1999 (age 26) Espoo, Finland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Dallas Stars HIFK
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	3rd overall, 2017 Dallas Stars
Playing career	2016–present

Miro Heiskanen, born on July 18, 1999, is a professional ice hockey player from Finland. He plays as a defenceman and is an alternate captain for the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). Heiskanen was considered one of the best young European players before the 2017 NHL entry draft. The Stars chose him as the third player overall in that draft.

Miro Heiskanen's Hockey Journey

Early Years with HIFK (2014–2017)

Heiskanen playing for HIFK in 2017.

Miro Heiskanen started playing hockey in the youth program of the Espoo Blues until he was 14. After that, he joined the youth program of HIFK. During the 2015–16 season, playing at the Junior A level, he scored 14 points in 30 games. For his great performance, he received the Yrjö Hakala Award as the rookie of the year. In May 2016, he signed a three-year contract with HIFK.

Heiskanen made his professional debut with HIFK in the Liiga during the 2016–17 Liiga season when he was just 17. He played as one of HIFK's top defencemen, scoring 5 goals and 10 points in 37 games. His coach, Antti Törmänen, said Heiskanen was the team's best defenceman that season. He praised Miro's ability to always make smart decisions on the ice. By the end of the season, Heiskanen was seen as a top player for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. An expert from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau called him "by far the best European defenceman in the draft." The Dallas Stars eventually picked him third overall.

After being drafted, Heiskanen signed a three-year contract with the Stars on July 8, 2017. He then spent the 2017–18 Liiga season playing on loan with HIFK.

Joining the Dallas Stars (2018–Present)

Heiskanen joined the Dallas Stars for the 2018–19 NHL season. He played his first NHL game on October 4, 2018, in a 3–0 win against the Arizona Coyotes. On October 25, he scored his first NHL goal in a 5–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He was only 19 years and 99 days old, making him the second-youngest Stars defenceman to score a goal in the team's history.

In January 2019, Heiskanen was chosen to represent the Stars at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. He was only the second rookie in the Stars/North Stars team history to be named an All-Star. At that time, he had 17 points, which was tied for seventh among all rookies and second among rookie defencemen in the league. When the Stars made it to the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, Heiskanen became one of only three defencemen under 20 to score two goals in a single playoff game.

Heiskanen being checked by Yanni Gourde during a game in March 2023.

During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, on August 30, 2020, Heiskanen set a new record for the Stars. He earned 16 points as a defenceman in the playoffs, breaking the team record. The Stars reached the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals, and Heiskanen finished the playoffs with an amazing 26 points in 27 games. This was the fourth-highest point total for any defenceman in a single playoff year in league history. Only Paul Coffey (1985), Brian Leetch (1994), and Al MacInnis (1989) had more. The Stars eventually lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

On July 17, 2021, Heiskanen signed a big eight-year contract with the Stars. In the 2022–23 NHL season, Heiskanen broke another record for the Stars. He scored 11 goals and had 62 assists, totaling 73 points. This was the most points ever by a Stars defenceman in a single season, beating the previous record held by Sergei Zubov. His 73 points also tied the record for the most points in an NHL season by a Finnish-born defenceman, a record previously held by Reijo Ruotsalainen. Heiskanen continues to be a key player for the Dallas Stars.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoff Performance

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
IIHF World Championship
Gold	2022 Finland
IIHF World U18 Championship
Gold	2016 United States
Silver	2017 Slovakia

International Play Statistics

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Finland	U17	5th		5	0	4	4	2
2016	Finland	U18			7	0	1	1	0
2017	Finland	U18			7	2	10	12	0
2017	Finland	WJC	9th		6	0	1	1	0
2018	Finland	WJC	6th		5	0	2	2	0
2018	Finland	OG	6th		5	1	0	1	2
2018	Finland	WC	5th		8	0	2	2	0
2022	Finland	WC			6	1	6	7	2
Junior totals					30	2	18	20	2
Senior totals					19	2	8	10	4

Awards and Special Recognitions

Heiskanen was selected third overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Miro Heiskanen has received several awards and honors throughout his hockey career: