When Konsta Helenius suited up for Finland at the World Junior Summer Showcase last summer, you couldn’t tell he was one of the youngest players in the tournament.
He could have been playing against his own age group at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, perhaps as the most notable forward from the 2024 NHL Draft class. But instead, Helenius showed up, played a middle-six role and registered an assist while playing with guys fighting for a roster spot for the main world junior event this winter.
Through six international games this season already, Helenius has been a standout with five points. Only New Jersey Devils prospect Lenni Hameenaho, who went on an absolute tear in Plymouth, has more points for Finland this year. It’s a small sample size, but we’re talking about a 17-year-old standing out against competition 2-3 years older than him while under pressure to perform in national team colors.
But it doesn’t stop there. Helenius has spent the whole year playing against men, and he’s now sitting at four goals and five points in 11 games with Jukurit. He’s well on his way to surpassing his 11-point output as a 16-year-old. He’s the most productive U-18 skater in the league this year, as he was last year, and is on pace to produce one of the better campaigns at that age in Liiga history.
Again, small sample size. But there’s a reason why some scouts think Helenius could challenge for a top-five spot in the draft next summer.
During the WJSS, Helenius said the most challenging thing about playing against men is “battling” – trying to win puck battles against older, stronger competition. He also said finding ways to score in a league where space is rarely given was a huge adjustment for him.
“Playing against better competition is tough, but it’s good for my development,” Helenius said. “(Playing against men) is where I need to be.”
The 5-foot-10 center is undersized, but he makes up for it with his speed, agility and playmaking. Helenius isn’t afraid to land some hits, and he’s as competitive as it gets. He plays like a smaller Sebastian Aho, if comparisons are your thing.
Whether Helenius has done enough to earn himself a spot on the world junior team is up for debate. But given there isn’t a single U-19 player in Liiga – drafted or not – ahead of him, production-wise, he deserves a good look. Of just tournament-eligible prospects in Liiga, he’s fourth.
Using Pick224, an excellent tool for tracking prospects worldwide, Helenius was fourth in primary points-per-game among all 2024 prospects playing junior. His production fell once he jumped up against pros, but the fact he still put up 0.33 points per game in 33 games in one of the best pro hockey leagues in the world is impressive.
But Helenius does so much more than generate scoring chances.
“Helenius is a dynamic winger that just plays a solid, well-rounded game at both ends,” a Finnish scout said. “His hockey IQ is among the high-end in this class. He’s a good shooter and a passer. He plays solid defense. Just a bit of everything.”
It’ll be interesting to see if Helenius can continue upward. It’s so difficult to evaluate prospects playing European pro often because playing time can be so challenging to come by. But we’re not talking about a kid who’s just fighting to stay around – he’s averaging around 16 minutes a night and even dipped into the 21:00 mark earlier this month.
His coach, former NHLer Olli Jokinen, clearly sees something in Helenius. Smart prospects find a way to stand out, and Helenius does it night in and night out. At this point, he won’t have to wait too long to hear his name called on draft day next June.
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