The 2024 National Hockey League draft is just over two months away!
With that being said, the Calgary Flames have a 5% chance of moving into the top spot, and a 10.4% chance of moving into the top three. More than likely, they’ll pick eighth overall as they have a 64.4% chance of doing so.
Let’s take a look at a prospect who could be available around that spot!
Konsta Helenius scouting report and profile
Right-shot centre, born May 11, 2006, in Ylöjärvi, Finland, 5’11”, 180 lbs
Helenius is a right-shot centre who plays for Mikkelin Jukurit in the SM-Liiga, the top league in Finland. Interestingly, his head coach for the team is former Flames forward Olli Jokinen, who spent two seasons with the Flames in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Back to Helenius, the 17-year-old scored 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games this season, far surpassing the three goals and 11 points in 32 games he had during the 2022-23 season. He also played for Team Finland in the 2024 World Junior Championship, scoring a goal and picking up an assist in seven games.
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranks Helenius as his 10th-best draft prospect, lower than the consensus. Daily Faceoff gives him a similar ranking at 12, while his lowest ranking is by The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari, who ranked the 17-year-old as his 19th-best available draft prospect. His highest ranking is by FC Hockey, who rank Helenius as the fourth-best draft prospect. The 17-year-old’s consolidated ranking according to Elite Prospects is eighth overall.
According to Wheeler, Helenius is good at face-offs and is a solid two-way centre. One word that’s used to describe him is “intelligent”, in terms of anticipation and knowing where his teammates are. He’s a good skater, but can improve, while Wheeler also notes that he’s a driver and a playmaker.
Ferrari, who ranked Helenius the lowest of any other site, notes that he takes advantage of “the slow pace of the league” and knows how to move the puck along. However, he notes that when space is taken away, Helenius struggles to make plays, and along the boards needs work. Ferrari finishes his section by noting : “Helenius plays chess while others play checkers at the Liiga level. My concern is the NHL is 3D chess.”
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked Helenius 12th, more so because of the defence prospects’ talent, rather than anything Helenius did (he once ranked as the fourth-best draft prospect). However, Ellis ended his bio by saying: “I’m confident a team picking Helenius outside the top 10 is getting a legit No. 2 center in the near future.”
Out of any position that the Flames need in their farm system, centre is one of the biggest areas that needs improvement. Although Helenius is on the smaller side, under 6 feet, he competes hard, is a smart player, and is good in his own zone.
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