"I don't think about that too much," Heiskanen said. "I just try to make sure I'm doing my thing and am playing as good as I can. I try not to think about things like that too much."
That included last winter when Heiskanen had one goal in five games with Finland at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. He also played with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2018 IIHF World Championship.
"I didn't have any pressure. I just did my thing and didn't think about it too much, like it being the Olympic Games," Heiskanen said. "I just try to think of it like another game. I've always been like that, don't be nervous and just try to have fun and don't think about it too much. It's a game, and I just try to play as good as I can. It was a real nice experience. I liked it very much. It was one of my dreams to play in the Olympic games. It was a big tournament for me."
While Heiskanen considers himself to be a two-way defenseman who can advance the puck effectively from the defensive zone, he said an improvement in his skating has helped him become a more productive offensive player.
"It wasn't that good about two years ago," Heiskanen said. "But I've been getting it all the time better and better. I'm a little bit stronger now which helps to get more power in my legs. It's helped me have a little bit more time by being able to get to pucks more quickly."
Heiskanen has spent time studying Marc Methot and Stephen Johns after Montgomery said earlier in the offseason that he intends to pair him with one of the veteran defensemen early in the season.
"Yeah a little bit I have watched them. They're very good defensive players," Heiskanen said. "I think it's really good if I had one of those guys with me. It makes it easier to help me out playing with someone like them."
