Buffalo Sabers 11th overall draft target: Konsta Helenius – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers

The best part of picking just outside the top 10 in the NHL draft might also be the worst part. The differentiation between some players is so minimal that choosing the right one can be a very difficult decision. Although there is talk of the Buffalo Sabers possibly trading the pick, they are currently holding on to the selection. There are a number of high-talented, high-upside prospects that will be available at No. 11 overall, so picking one that fits their system will be paramount, and Konsta Helenius fits that bill perfectly.

As a 5-foot-11 center and right-handed shooter, Helenius would add more depth to the Sabers in the middle while also diversifying the hand of their prospect pool that is primarily left-handed. Here, we’ll explain what Helenius brings to the table and why he’s a top candidate for the Sabres.

Hélène’s strong points

One thing that stands out about his game is his skating ability. He’s not necessarily one of the fastest skaters in the draft, but he has excellent edge work and can really turn on a dime to make space in tight spots. He’s a shifty, mobile attacker who can make good use of the space he creates for himself, which leads to his other best strength: his game. Passing well is one thing, and while Helenius is a good passer, his ability to set up plays in general, both for himself and his teammates, is exceptional. He finds weak spots in the offensive zone almost effortlessly and he reads defenses with incredible hockey IQ. A player who passes well and plays smart is something the Sabers could really use in their system.

The combination of all these talents resulted in a very nice stat line for Jukurit Mikkeli in the Liiga (Finland’s top league), as he finished with 14 goals and 22 assists in 51 regular season games, then had two goals and four assists in six. playoff games. The Sabers are a team of fast skaters who need to score up the middle, and his style of play fits perfectly with the way their team is built. Utilizing his game from anywhere in the offensive zone would be a major asset for the Sabers moving forward, and if developed the right way, a comparison to someone like Mat Barzal isn’t out of the question. question.

Where can Helenius improve?

Despite his skating abilities, he is not a very fast skater. Working on his foot speed as well as his transition game to better improve his defensive game will make him a more reliable two-way center in the long run. He has the ability to be a top-six forward with excellent scoring, but with the right push and development path, he could be more than just a scorer. With how smart he is and how well he can read plays – combined with his ability to move around the ice – he could be a threat as a two-way center. Improving his ability to move up and down the ice with speed will allow him to play with more effort and stay on the ice for longer periods of time, making him a more viable option in more situations.

Adding some defensive awareness to his game and translating his hockey IQ to the defensive zone will take some time, but since the Sabers wouldn’t need him in the NHL anytime soon, they would have the ability to put him on that path of development and really exploit this potential. He has the scoring and playmaking ability of someone like Barzal, but if he could become a more responsible player and use his talents in different ways, the Sabers could make him similar to Nico Hischier . While this comparison is admittedly high, they have a similar playstyle. Having a player who can play in any scenario and still be a major scoring threat is something the Sabers could desperately use on their roster. Helenius has this potential, but these improvements need to be made first.

Where would Helenius fit on the Sabers roster?

There are plenty of prospects in the Sabers system, and as far as centers go, Helenius would be grouped with Matt Savoie, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund for the top spots. As far as the depth chart goes, he would be right next to Ostlund; whether it’s in front of him or behind him is a question at this point. He wouldn’t surpass Kulich or Savoie yet, but with his talent, he could certainly give Kulich a run for his money in a year’s time.

The Sabers probably won’t see Helenius for three or four years, which gives them some flexibility on how to place him in their lineup. He wouldn’t be thrust straight into their top six forward group and would likely have some time in their middle group to learn NHL speed and develop properly, but once he’s up to speed I might very well see it in the second. -central position of the line to the strict minimum. At his full potential, he could become the number one center in the NHL, but with Savoie standing in his way, it might be a little difficult to surpass him.

Projecting Helenius Sabers career

Helenius may have fallen slightly from his initial mid-round ranking as the highest-ranked European skater at third, but that shouldn’t deter Buffalo from picking him. If Buffalo were lucky enough to select him with the 11th overall pick – as predicted by a few mock drafts so far – they would have a very special forward on their roster. If his development goes well, he would ideally be planned with a scorer and another playmaker. The best line combination would definitely be Helenius with Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka. Both Peterka and Thompson offer well-rounded skills in their scoring and passing abilities, and Helenius would thrive between the two of them. At his full potential, he would feed both pucks left and right as the Sabres’ second-line center.

Related – Sabers expected to use all of their 2024 draft picks

Now, it might be a little exciting to assume that Thompson and Peterka would ultimately be part of the Sabres’ future second line, but I’m making this prediction presuming that Savoie will become the center of the Sabres’ first line between Zach Benson and Jack Quinn. or Alex Tuch (if he is retained.) In this scenario, Helenius would become the Sabres’ versatile, all-situation forward. His production numbers would be in the high-end range of over 70 points per season, and he would have a very successful career in Buffalo. The Sabers have a chance to make a splash if they can pick up a player like him, but they’ll need to develop him properly. It will be up to head coach Lindy Ruff, or their coach-in-waiting, Seth Appert, to bring this kid up to speed if he ends up getting picked later this month.