“I like to fight hard” | Helenius brings a mature, competitive identity to the Sabers

LAS VEGAS – Kalle Helenius smiled as he sat in a suite at the Sphere in Las Vegas, overlooking the 160,000-square-foot screen that served as the backdrop for the NHL draft and the small circular stage for which the his younger brother had just been called.

Konsta Helenius stood nearby and talked to a Buffalo Sabers scout, with other members of the organization and the Helenius family scattered around. Glancing toward his brother in his royal blue jersey, Kalle remembered the years of work that precipitated Konsta’s selection by the Sabers with the 14th overall pick.

“From a young age, I saw him work hard,” Kalle said. “Today was the day he worked for.”

Hard work, defensive reliability and on-ice intelligence are the traits most often associated with Konsta Helenius, who was the third international skater selected in the draft by NHL Central Scouting. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said the forward was a top-10 pick in the team’s draft. The fact they were able to select Helenius at 14 speaks to the wide diversity of opinion in what is considered a deep class.

The Sabers see Helenius as a true center whose experience could prepare him for a move to professional hockey in North America sooner rather than later.

“We see a winning hockey player,” Adams said. “Someone who’s going to play center for us and help us win hockey games.”

Konsta attributed her competitive nature—and by extension her desire to win—to growing up with a brother who was two years older. The two competed in sports ranging from soccer to basketball to badminton and, of course, hockey. Kalle recalls one instance where, in an attempt to lift her older brother’s stick, Konsta threw a high stick at his face, requiring three stitches.

“He hates to lose,” Kalle said. “Every time I won against him in the yard, he wanted to play again until he won.”

These battles helped shape Konsta’s identity on the ice. He’s 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, but his physicality — his ability to win battles down low and create offense off the forecheck — is considered a strength. This has allowed him to excel against men since the age of 16 in Liiga, Finland’s top professional league.

Helenius had 36 points (14+22) in 51 games last season, the fourth-highest single-season total by an under-18 player in Liiga history, behind current NHL forwards Aleksander Barkov, Mikael Granlund and Kaapo Kakko. His 47 career points trail only Barkov among under-18 players in league history.

Helenius’ sophomore campaign – and his point-per-game performance in the playoffs – earned him a spot on Team Finland at the men’s world championship in May. He was 17 when that tournament began, playing against teams made up partly of NHL players.

“I think it was good for me to play against men because I like to fight hard,” he said. “I’m not the biggest guy, but I think I’m a very strong guy, and I think it was good for me.”