Buffalo Sabers 2024 Draft Target: Konsta Helenius – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers

The time for speculation is coming to an end. The 2024 NHL Draft is fast approaching and it’s an opportunity for teams to change the direction of their future. For the Buffalo Sabres, who have an interesting decision to make with 11^th overall choice, this could be an opportunity to add another quality perspective to the system.

With names like Carter Yakemchuk, Cole Eiserman and Beckett Sennecke available, there is no shortage of options. One of the more intriguing possibilities at No. 11 overall is Finnish center Konsta Helenius.

Evaluate Helenius’ strengths

It wasn’t that long ago that Helenius was considered one of the top prospects in the draft. His stock has taken a hit over the past year, but he definitely has the kind of skills that translate to the NHL level.

Related: Sabers can fill an organizational need with 11^th Take

At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy on the block. That said, he has built an identity as a hard worker and never seems to leave his position. That kind of attitude and effort is welcome on any team, especially one that has struggled to put up 60 minutes of effort like the Sabers did.

Helenius plays a 200 foot game and has a fantastic hockey IQ. He has enough speed to be dangerous in transition but also does well in confined spaces. He is a possession center who could be a solid two-way option at the NHL level.

Some worry he doesn’t have enough skills in the skating department to be dynamic at the next level. His shot usage isn’t great either, as he tends to focus on making plays for his teammates most often.

What can Helenius work on?

Helenius will be punished in scouting reports for two main reasons: his size and his lack of dominant skill. He may not impress like a top player like Macklin Celebrini or Ivan Demidov does, but he does a lot of little things right.

The size complaint hasn’t been an issue so far. He shows a bit of enthusiasm on the boards and even achieves some solid failures. His high hockey IQ puts him in the right position more often than not, which can come in handy when trying to avoid punishment. His shot has potential given that he has an accurate and heavy wrist. Being a little lighter would be ideal, but he’s not a bad skater by any means.

Where does Helenius stand with the Sabres?

Helenius offers a lot to a team like the Sabres. While he doesn’t have the size or physicality that the Sabers desperately lack, he fills the need for a two-way playmaking center at the next level. His defensive awareness would certainly be welcome given the team’s overall defensive struggles in years past.

As a smart playmaking center, Helenius could easily slot into the second line over the next few years. He has the potential to mesh well with finishers like Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson, especially given his ability to create space for himself and his teammates.

Even if he is not the greatest player, his enthusiasm and his willingness to engage physically would be welcome. You don’t have to be the biggest dog in the fight to make a team much harder to play against.

Projecting Helenius’ career in Buffalo

Helenius would certainly be intriguing if he dropped to 11th overall. Many mock drafts have him somewhere between 9 and 12, although that could all change when draft night rolls around. He has the potential to be a top center at best and a solid middle-six contributor at worst.

In Buffalo, Helenius could compete with Dylan Cozens for one of the top spots at center. His defensive awareness would make him valuable from the jump and his willingness to fight could inspire confidence in players of similar size.

In an ideal situation, Helenius could hit around 70 points while serving as a high-end second-line center. If he can work on using his shot more often, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him as a 30-goal scorer at the next level.