NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For as long as Miro Heiskanen has been sailing by opponents and speaking modestly, impressing coaching staffs and enamoring fan bases, he's been evaluated. His pristine skating has been noticed. His swift poke checks noted. His hockey IQ tested. His shot observed. His potential fawned over.
Long before he scored two goals in the Stars' 3-2 win in Game 1 over Nashville in the first round of the playoffs, Heiskanen was penciled in as a prodigy, the next great Dallas defenseman, the teenaged sensation. Now, the rest of the hockey community can take notice.