San Jose Sharks
Heise on What Helped Him Break Out This Season
In the fifth round of the 2025 Draft, the San Jose Sharks selected overage center Max Heise.
Heise went undrafted in 2024, but a strong season with the Penticton Vees in the BCHL allowed him to get on the Sharks’ radar, and ultimately, he was picked 150th overall. In the BCHL, he scored 27 goals and had 40 points in 50 games for the Vees. Last year, he had just six goals and 13 points.
Now, Heise is going to take an interesting development path, opting to head to the WHL for a single season with the Prince Albert Raiders before hopping to the NCAA with Michigan State University.
The 6-foot-3 forward stated he models his game after Matt Boldy.
Max Heise, on getting selected by the San Jose Sharks:
It’s pretty special. [In] the living room with my family, had the TV on and saw my name pop up there, and [it was] taking a little bit to make the pick. I had some good conversations with them throughout the year. Just a really exciting moment for my family.
Heise, on his future plans:
I am going to Prince Albert next year in the Western League. I think they do a really good job at developing their players, and then moving on to Michigan State the following year. They have a great track record. Nightingale and the assistant coaches do an unbelievable job there. So super excited to get done there as well.
Heise, on who he knows inside the San Jose Sharks organization:
I actually played with Michael Fisher this year, so I got to know a little bit about the organization through him. He says nothing but good things about the organization. I’m just really, really excited to be a part of it.
Heise, on what allowed for his breakout this past season:
Trusting myself and my abilities, as well as my teammates, I had great linemates and great teammates that I was surrounded with. I got fortunate enough to have a good year, and be able to get drafted by San Jose. It was a good year, great team, and I can’t thank Penticton enough.
Heise, on going undrafted last year:
I didn’t have as well of a year last year as I did this year. So I wasn’t expecting anything too much. I used it to fire me up a little bit for this upcoming year, and to try and make a statement and get selected this year, which I’m grateful that happened.
Heise, on why he’s going to the WHL then the NCAA:
I need a couple more years to fill out and add some weight. I think that they do an unbelievable job there, and Will Morlock, their strength conditioning coach is very high end. I think it’ll be a good step for my development path.
Watch the full interview here
Player movement pace picking up.
Hague traded to Nashville. For a 3rd pair guy, albeit on a d-heavy Vegas team, he wrapped up a tidy 4x$5.5mil deal. Thought he might be a candidate to wind in SJ.
As for Max Heise, he’ll likely be another one if GMMG’s overachievers no one saw coming. Like Laubach and Muldowney. I do like his self-awareness, knowing he needs to get bigger and stronger and deciding to go places which support him in that process.
Too bad about Hague. That seemed like a reasonable target for the Sharks. As things stand, the Sharks blue line is not quite NHL quality.
when he was announced in the draft I heard “Max Ice” and i was like… now that’s a hockey name
Sheng, thanks for all the draft coverage. Gotta say though, I figured there would be more trade/free agency content from you. With all the moves already going down including now Marner being gone, I guess you haven’t heard much worth posting about?
Just a thought, I wish there was an open thread at SJHN for all the free agency madness. Would be fun to have a spot for all things going down across the league even if they aren’t Sharks related.
I think that we should have two threads. One set up just for the guys signing two year deals so they can cash in again soon. I know Marner didn’t not only sign a long term but made it a sign and trade so he could get 8 years. And I know Ekblad, Provorov, Marchand, Romanov, Knies, have all signed long term deals just today.
But the 2-year ones are coming. I can feel it. It’s math.
Marner at $12mil AAV? He definitely left money on the table.So did Ekblad. In the back of my mind, I keep coming back to Dahlin. I can’t imagine Buffalo, in the toughest division in the league, is going to make the playoffs. And if they don’t, everyone’s job is on the line. Toronto, Florida and Tampa are all gonna be legit good for a bit longer. Montreal is a rapid riser, as is Ottawa. Detroit is respectable and even Boston could attempt a quick re-tool. So where does that leave Dahlin? Gotta believe he’s one of the few who can… Read more »
I don’t think Marner left too much on the table in his case given Nevada does not have a state income tax. Toronto reportedly offered $13mil but taxes probably make that less than Vegas. Who knows what Carolina offered but I don’t think anybody was willing to offer Draisaitl money. The Marner camp might have wanted Draisaitl money and some corners of media had been stirring that pot, but I think most NHL GMs know Marner is not Draisaitl. I think he did well to get as much money as Rantanen. Ekblad definitely took a very team-friendly deal. To take… Read more »
He just posted a free agency article 6 days ago, and then it was time for draft coverage. Anything new since then would still be speculation because free agency is not open.
I’m sure he’ll have more stuff out when the Sharks actually have news to report on
Not draft-related but it seems like July 1 will be even less dramatic than expected. Mitch Marner goes to Golden Knights in sign-and-trade. $12milx8. Ekblad took an extremely team-friendly deal at $6.1milx8. Besides the desire to be with contenders in tax-free states, it seems like players are also sacrificing AAV to grab 8 year deals before they are banned. All with rising cap on the horizon. Once again proving NHL players do not think the way many in the media think. Lots of people in the media (and a fair number of serious fans) predicted lots of short deals this… Read more »
Agree with this observation. If you really love the organization, the pursuit of a few extra $$ stops mattering.
Once took a “grass is greener” job. Made that mistake in my career exactly once.