Ville Heinola: in gougouns on the ice rink, eight weeks after a fractured ankle

Ville Heinola is one of the Winnipeg Jets’ brightest prospects.

The offensive-minded defenseman was selected 20th overall by Winnipeg in the 2019 draft, and after shuttling back and forth between the NHL and AHL in recent years, he seems ready to find his niche in the big leagues.

Heinola was really good last year with the Jets’ training club (37 points in 48 games) and had a good training camp, but a nasty ankle fracture got in the way.

The 22-year-old was injured in a game on October 5 and was originally scheduled to miss up to two to three months due to surgery.

And Heinola was spotted on the ice in Winnipeg this morning. He wasn’t dressed in his gear: he was on foot, in his gougounes, maneuvering pucks on the ice to test his ankle.

I repeat. He was on the ice IN GOUGOUNES, eight weeks after breaking his ankle.

That’s a bit much, isn’t it?

#NHLJets Ville Heinola continues to make his way back from a broken left ankle suffered on October 5. He’s been sidelined for just over 8 weeks in his 2-3 month recovery timeline.@TSN_Edge pic.twitter.com/VfQ0VfffBn

– John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) December 4, 2023

Who on the Jets gave Heinola the green light to board the rink in sandals?

That’s what I’m wondering, after all. I’m not a doctor, but I have a hard time imagining that this is a practice recommended by the team doctors in Winnipeg…

Imagine if we saw Kirby Dach on the Bell Centre ice in a month’s time, frolicking with pucks in gougounes or Crocs… Even though he’s not 100% recovered from his injury.

News flash: it would be quite a circus.

At least – and I mean at least – Heinola didn’t fall on the ice while doing his little manoeuvres. Because that, too, would have been the talk of the town.

In a gust

– It’s shaking!

It’s expensive to hug. We talk to @MaximeTruman

“It’s embarrassing, we rent Youppi..” Mr. Truman

“We’re going to squeeze the lemon as hard as we can. “M. Truman#makeyourown #LNH #Youppi @CanadiensMTL #NHL https://t.co/GouyrEuLBf

– CHOI 98,1 Radio X (@CHOIRadioX) December 4, 2023

– Yikes.

Raptors looking for consistency https://t.co/Za42Cb1YvU

– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) December 4, 2023

– Nice promo.

.@theDaddyMagic says NO to METAL! #GoHabsGo | @AEW | @AEWpress pic.twitter.com/OKhZe1VndS

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) December 4, 2023

– Mark Giordano out 6-8 weeks.

**Injury Update**
I’m told it’s a broken finger for @MapleLeafs D Giordano, typically 4 to 6 week timeline range.#LeafsForever will continue observing the market for any potential fit and price they’re comfortable with. #HockeyX #HockeyTwitter. pic.twitter.com/mQGPIF9d8p