Konsta Helenius, 14th draft pick to Buffalo Sabres, 14th overall – The Hockey Writers – Sabers Prospects

With the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Sabers selected Konsta Helenius of Jukurit of the Finnish Liiga.

About Konsta Helenius

Konsta Helenius is an excellent playmaker who competes well enough to succeed in the Finnish Liiga at 17 years old. Helenius is balanced under pressure and makes remarkable passes a routine, setting his teammates up for success. He was one of Finland’s best players at the 2023 U18 WJC, directing the offensive play and showing encouraging commitment defensively. He was also good for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, although the stat sheet might not give you the best idea of ​​his impact.

Helenius’ two-way play against the pros as a teenager has been very impressive, especially in transition where he is able to keep up with the pace of play both physically and mentally. The biggest question with Helenius is whether he has more talent to show. He’s shown flashes of talent against his peers that make you think he could be a top-line player in the NHL, but whenever he plays against men, he plays a more reserved, safe game. Is he just doing it to get minutes as a young pro or does he not have enough talent to beat men? This is the question that will decide whether he will be a first or second line player.

Excerpt from THW Prospect Profile

The reason Helenius has been able to score so many points, no matter where he plays, is his intelligence. He uses his fantastic skating to create space, using bursts of speed and quick changes of direction to open up lanes for easy passes to his teammates. He watches the flow of plays closely and can read where the puck is going and react accordingly. Oh, and he’s been able to do all of this against players five to ten years his senior.

Related: Live coverage of the 2024 THW Draft

On defense, he’s just as smart. Despite standing at 5-foot-11, Helenius is surprisingly strong and isn’t afraid to engage physically with bigger opponents. He uses strong positioning to detect errant passes and can pressure players into making mistakes and coughing up the puck. When that happens, he relentlessly pursues the puck, ensuring possession goes to his team. No matter what’s happening on the ice, he’s a step or two ahead of everyone else.

Helenius really can do anything. He is determined and relentless, skates well and uses his edges and quick changes effectively. He understands the defensive side of the game, knows how to eliminate teammates who have the best chances to score with a powerful pass and has a quick and deceptive clearance. The only criticism against it is that, among all these skills, none stands out from its competitors. But when it comes to adding an impact player, no one impacts more areas than Helenius, and he’s not far from being NHL ready.

The full player profile can be found here

How does this affect the Sabers Plans

It doesn’t seem fair at this point, but the Sabres continue to recruit top-tier talent. Despite being just under 6-foot, Helenius’ game has plenty of pro center traits, and I think he’ll eventually become a solid second-line center (or first-line wing) in his NHL prime. Helenius will earn big minutes on the power play as a secondary playmaker and has plenty of playmaking skills that could find him in the NHL sooner rather than later. Despite his size, he plays a bigger game and isn’t afraid to show his competitive side. His intelligence and attention to detail are a big reason the Sabres thought so highly of him and selected him when they did.