Observations:

December 2016 – There is just no stopping Tim Heed, at least not at the AHL level. He has 22 points in his first 21 games played. He's posted multi-point games on five occasions and his time on ice is always in the top three on the San Jose Barracuda. Head coach Roy Sommer has compared Heed to the Barracuda's version of Brent Burns, and his ability to hang in with the play to keep pucks out of the defensive zone is as exceptional as his skating. Writers joke that no one is sure if Heed is as good in the defensive zone because he and partner Joakim Ryan spend so little time, one cannot get enough viewing time to make an informed opinion. Heed has said that he's finding the North American game to be well suited to his playing style and he's enjoying the freedom to join the rush more than he did in the SHL. The Barracuda power play runs through him, but he's tied on the team in 5 on 5 primary points with ten as well. The Sharks are stacked on the blueline, and Heed likely would have got a look by now in many other organizations. Either way, he has to be on the short list should injuries or a trade occur. Zachary DeVine

November 2016 – Someone needs to let Tim Heed know that adjusting to a new ice surface, culture, team, and the continent is challenging. Already in 14 games with the Barracuda, Heed is the leading defenseman in scoring with 13 points in 14 games. His ability to get the puck on net with a hard, accurate shot has helped the net-front players on the Barracuda roster cash in some dirty goals. Heed's skating ability allows him to recover from his forays into the offensive zone, but he is not irresponsible in these adventures. Defensively his skating allows for very tight gaps, and he can stay with the speedy wingers well. At times he can have trouble on the boards with bigger players, but this is infrequent. Heed is a fluid skater and his partnership with Joakim Ryan have the two players nearly always being the top ice-time skaters in every game. Heed should officially be on call-up watch if injuries should impact the Sharks defensemen. Zachary DeVine

October 2016 – Heed is fully recovered from offseason wrist surgery that kept him away from the Sharks Development Camp this summer. Heed doesn’t have great size, but fluid skating ability in all four directions is usually the best on the ice. He has exhibited good on-ice vision and connected on passes that few in the Sharks defensive pipeline would even attempt, much less be highly successful at. Physically Heed has trouble against larger opponents once they can slow him down, but the skating and quick stick make him competitive in the dirty areas of the ice. Heed also has a heavy wrist and slap shot, that he gets on net frequently and in a good position for a deflection. Positionally, he’s been better than advertised and is adapting to the smaller ice surface well. Zachary DeVine

May 2016 – The San Jose Sharks signed the Swedish standout defender on May 25, 2016 to a one year, two-way, entry level contract. The converted forward owns a strong point shot that he is able to get through traffic on a regular basis and possesses fantastic distribution skills, making him a prime candidate to quarterback a power play unit. He produced 10 goals and 37 points in 50 games for Skellefteå of the SHL in 2014-15 and then added 11 points in 15 playoff games. During the 2015-16 campaign, he produced 23 points in 52 games and added nine points in 16 playoff games helping his team advance to the SHL finals before losing out to Frölunda HC.

The 25-year-old is not overly physical and will need to continue rounding out his defensive game in order to stand the rigors of NHL forwards bearing down on him.

Fantasy Outlook: B-

Heed has some impressive offensive skills and knows how to use the physical tools he has. Once he figures out the smaller ice, he could be a dangerous player.

Footage:

Tim Heed’s 2014-15 highlights:

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