Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?
Taken No. 2 in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft with the pick between Connor Bedard and Brayden Yager (he and Yager were actually teammates in minor hockey), Heidt is a talented and hardworking playmaker who keeps himself involved in the play off the puck and then makes plays (especially as an equal parts instinctual and cerebral facilitator) in possession of the puck. He was also strong in the faceoff circle the last three seasons, establishing himself as a go-to guy in the dot in the WHL.
He’s not a speedster but he’s a good enough skater who is comfortable on his edges, plays with jump, will build speed and put junior defenders on their heels and/or create separation, leads a lot of neutral-zone carries into entries and makes plays into space for himself or his linemates at pace, though he can over-pass at times (to the point where he passes up good looks). He quickly identifies gaps and vulnerabilities in coverage and then executes through seams. He’ll finish his checks and can play a scrappy game when the intensity ramps up (which has resulted in a couple of suspensions in his time in the WHL). He’s unafraid to try things and has the skill to execute difficult plays. He’ll win inside body positioning to come away with a lot of pucks against his peers. He’ll block shots. And he always seems to be around it.
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