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

With the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry 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 was very impressive, especially in transition where he was 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 has shown flashes of talent against his peers that make you think he could be a first-line player in the NHL, but whenever he plays against men, he plays a more reserved and safe game. Is he doing it simply to earn minutes as a young pro or does he not have the talent to beat men? That is the question that will decide whether he will be a first-line or second-line player.

Excerpt from THW prospect profile

The reason Helenius has been able to put up 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 easy lanes for his teammates to pass. He is a keen observer of plays and can read where the puck is going and react accordingly. Oh, and he has 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 is just as intelligent. Despite being 5 feet 11 inches tall, Helenius displays surprising strength and is not afraid to engage physically with larger opponents. He uses strong positioning to detect errant passes and can pressure players to force them to make mistakes and cough up the puck. When this 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.

Helenius really can do anything. He is determined and relentless, skates well and uses his edges and quick changes of speed effectively. He understands the defensive side of the game, knows how to intercept teammates who have the best chance to score with a powerful pass, and has a deceptively quick trigger. The only criticism he can make of Helenius is that, of all these abilities, none of them stands out from his competitors. But when it comes to adding an impact player, no one is more impactful than Helenius, and he’s not far from being NHL ready.

The player’s full profile can be found here

How does this affect the Sabers Plans

It doesn’t seem fair at this point, but the Sabers continue to sign top-tier talent. Although he stands just under 6 feet tall, Helenius’ game contains many of the traits of a professional center, and I believe he will ultimately become a good second-line center (or first-line wing) in his prime in the NHL. Helenius will earn big minutes on the power play as a secondary playmaker and has many 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 why the Sabers liked him and selected him when they did.