2024 NHL Draft roundup: Could Konsta Helenius get taken in the top three?

“If I had to choose right now, I’d take Konsta Helenius ahead of Cole Eiserman.”

That’s just the opinion of one NHL scout, but the hype surrounding Finnish star Helenius is rising. The way Eiserman is scoring, he should have no issue surpassing Cole Caufield as the top scorer in USA Hockey National Team Development Program history.

But Helenius is turning heads for his tremendous production. Since returning from the U-20 Five Nations Tournament in early November – an event that showed he deserves a crack as Finland’s top center at the World Juniors later this month – he has managed to tally nine points in his past six games. He’s averaging around 18 minutes a night, and with a full-season pace of 49 points with Jukurit, he has a chance to edge Aleksander Barkov’s record of 48 points as a U-18 player in Finland’s top pro league. Seriously, Helenius’s production is near-historic right now.

The biggest noticeable difference between the two? Eiserman can be caught watching the play a bit too much and relying on his shot to do all the work. Helenius is a hard-working, two-way forward who fights for every opportunity he gets. It’s not like he’s just lucking out with great teammates – no matter the level, Helenius is creating his own chances.

I’m not willing to put Helenius in my top three right now – he was sixth in my latest rankings earlier this month. But I can assure you Helenius will be higher in my pre-WJC rankings – and I fully believe he’ll thrive in Sweden for the event, too.

OHL

– Reviews are mixed on Henry Mews, a defenseman most scouts will agree has tremendous talent. He’s on a bit of a hot streak with three multi-point efforts in a row, giving him 18 points in 20 games. He’s a high-risk, high-reward defender who can absolutely dazzle, but putting together consistent efforts can be difficult. But Mews commands attention like very few across the OHL when he is on his game. From recent viewings, I like what I’m seeing right now.

QMJHL

– The first thing you’ll notice when watching Thomas Desruisseaux play is how smart he is with the puck. The Chicoutimi Sagueneens forward has a natural offensive ability, allowing him to be one of the team’s top offensive threats. A playmaker first, he has five assists in his past five games, but they were split over two outings. The main setup man for Maxim Masse, Desruisseaux is smart enough to get himself out of trouble, which is important because his skating is still lacking. It’s fun to watch him, though.

WHL

– Andrew Basha had his second five-point night of the season last Saturday, scoring four goals and five points in a 6-1 win over Brandon. He has 14 points in his past 10 games, giving him 32 points in 25 total contests. Basha had a great season last year with 56 points, but he’s now in first-round territory with how he has rounded his game out on a Tigers team loaded with talent. Basha loves to carry the puck, his defensive game is solid and he clearly knows how to shoot.

USHL

– Currently serving as the top winger on the USNTDP, it’s easy to rack up points when you’ve got Cole Eiserman alongside you. Christian Humphreys has nine points in his past two games against college programs and finished off the U-18 Five Nations Tournament in Czechia a few weeks ago with a three-assist effort. He tends to get points in bunches, with his vision being a big asset of his game. The University of Michigan commit has been one of my favorites to watch on this stacked USNTDP squad this year, and scouts are noticing.

– Boasting one of the best names in the draft class, John Mustard is playing some solid hockey with Waterloo. Currently sitting at 11 goals and 20 points in 18 games, Mustard scored his first career hat-trick last Saturday, just two games after recording a two-assist night against Sioux Falls. It’s been a strong transition to junior hockey after putting up eye-popping numbers with the North Jersey Avalanche last year, sitting sixth among 2024 draft eligibles in AAA hockey with 56 goals and 117 points. He knows how to score, and while his skating is a work in progress, Mustard has some late-round steal potential.

Finland

– A big 6-foot-4 keeper, Kim Saarinen has looked great since his rough showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s 10-3-0 with two shutouts and a .919 save percentage with HPK’s U-20 team and was great in a victory over Czechia at the U-18 Five Nations tournament earlier this month. He was the only Finnish player that seemed to show up in a 5-0 loss to USA in that tournament, too. I’m not sure where he’ll land in the NHL Draft, but he’s got an excellent base to work with.

Sweden

– What a campaign Leo Sahlin Wallenius is having. He’s up to 21 points in 25 games, and I was happy to see him thrive with a two-assist effort over HV71 in U-20 action on Wednesday. He’s so smart with the puck, and he shows a similar willingness to rush the puck as Tom Willander did last year. He has also been one of Sweden’s best puck-movers in international action, too.

– Sticking on the Swedish defensive front, Alfons Freij has looked great recently. The 6-foot-1 defenseman with great hands has five points in his past five outings with Vaxjo’s U-20 team and was a huge reason why Sweden bounced back for a shocking 7-6 shootout win over the United States at the Five Nations tournament back on Nov. 9. He’s a slick two-way defender. I love how confident he is skating up the ice with the puck. Keep a close eye on him at the World Junior A Challenge later this month.