One NHL Prospect Seemingly Ahead of Schedule for the Buffalo Sabres

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.