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One NHL Prospect Seemingly Ahead of Schedule for the Buffalo Sabres

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One NHL prospect for the Buffalo Sabres has stuck out in the best way possible over the course of training camp and the preseason so far. Is there a chance that this player could crack the lineup come October? Konsta Helenius is certainly making a case to start 2025-26 in the NHL.

Helenius’ History

Helenius was the 14th-overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The Finland native gave up playing in the Liiga in his home country to begin his North American professional hockey journey. A decision that would find him playing in the AHL with the, Buffalo affiliated, Rochester Americans. Last season with the “Amerks“, Helenius scored 14 goals and recorded 21 assists as an 18-year-old rookie. In the postseason, he scored three times with three assists in eight Calder Cup Playoff games.

Helenius Play Early on in 2025-2026

Helenius has quickly impressed many attendees of the Sabres Prospect and regular NHL training camp so far this year. Reports of his strong two-way game have been echoed by many local beat reporters. In three pre-season games so far, Helenius has recorded a goal and an assist. Both of those coming in games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

 

The Columbus Blue Jackets mixed the use of NHLers and others in their ppre-season ames. So Helenius has yet to prove he can sustain success like this at the NHL level. However, he’s doing everything you could ask a 19-year-old to do right now.

Helenius’ Praise from Vets

The one mistake Helenius made in the preseason so far is a bad hooking penalty late in a 2-1 game against the Blue Jackets. Lindy Ruff is known for being demanding, especially towards young players. Normally, we’d see Lindy Ruff bench a player for a mistake like that for the rest of the game. However, Ruff went for a different approach. He put the teenager back out on the ice.

“I thought his game was probably one of the best I’ve seen.” Ruff said. “I liked his answer after he took the penalty, he came out and gave us a heck of a shift.”

Jason Zucker, who scored the game winner off of Helenius’ assist, also had praise for the young man in his post-game media session. “I thought he was great, obviously really skilled,” Zucker said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player in this league for a long time.”

Could Helenius Crack the Opening Night Sabres Lineup

The chances for Helenius to crack the lineup opening night are slim. The Sabres have rushed many prospects before they’re ready and have received criticism for it. The one path forward for Helenius is with an injury to Jordan Greenway. Greenway is dealing with a minor injury that might keep him out for a small amount of time to start the year. Do the Sabres go with vets to fill that spot in the lineup, like Justin Danforth? Or do they let the rookie play a couple games and show what he has got?

Either way it feels likely Helenius spends most of his time this season in Rochester. If he can be dominant there this year, the Sabres will be eager to get him in the lineup to start the season. Helenius will have more opportunities to make one thing clear though. He should be the first forward called up from Rochester during the season. If Helenius can continue to have these types of performances, he will jump guys like Noah Ostlund and Isak Rosen in the pecking order.

Helenius has made himself a player to watch this preseason. There is opportunity to be had within the Sabres organization, and he’s showing all the right things to take that opportunity. The season is mere weeks away, and we’ll see if Helenius finds himself on the Sabres lineup.

Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports

The post One NHL Prospect Seemingly Ahead of Schedule for the Buffalo Sabres appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.