Konsta Helenius faces increasing pressure as Sabres offense falters

It has been a below average start for the Buffalo Sabres early in the new season. The team is struggling, and has not had several players step up in the opening month.

Konsta Helenius is a Sabres center who showed tremendous upside a season ago. He is now right in the middle of the lineup and has the ability to one day add as much value as the likes of Tage Thompson at that end of the rink.

Last year when he was brought up from Rochester, he played in nine games in the regular season and was a key factor in why the Sabres pushed the Canadiens to seven games in the playoffs.

But this year, like many others, Helenius has been lost in the shuffle and has not emerged yet despite the hope the Sabres had for him in the offseason. He's scored just two points in 10 games.

It may be that teams planned for his passing ability. The upside is still there but he needs to figure it out soon. He was a healthy scratch for one game this season and having a young player not dress is often a sign of the ever-growing issues.

Konsta Helenius ranks worst among Sabres forwards with 5.37 turnovers per 60 minutes

The Sabres decided in the offseason to go with the forwards they had on hand after losing Alex Tuch. They spent more on defensemen and were comfortable with the young crop up front. This includes Helenius.

Would the Sabres decide at this point in the year to send him back down to the AHL's Rochester Americans for him to gain more confidence? There is something to be said for him working through the issues on the ice in Buffalo, though.

He may play well with the Amerks, but if he is called back up and continues to struggle it could damage his mental ability.

Helenius lone goal came in the loss to the Colubmus Blue Jackets in the opening game. It helped the Sabres cut the lead to 4-3 in the second period. It was a one-time shot on the left side of the ice. He needs to get back to that vision.

Helenius was a part of the youth wave that gave the Sabres a lot of hope after the second round of the playoffs last year. It is time for him to live up to that hype now.