Preseason and training camp are underway for all 32 NHL teams. That means we could see a few surprise players fly under the radar and make the opening night roster, whether they stay on the roster or get sent back down shortly after.
One NHL prospect for the Buffalo Sabres has stuck out in the best way possible over the course of training camp and the preseason so far. Is there a chance that this player could crack the lineup come October?
A strong rookie season in which forward Konsta Helenius scored 14 goals and 35 points in 65 games for the Rochester Americans has earned the Finn spot on the AHL’s 2024-25 Top Prospects Team.
NHL head coaches have to hire good assistants. They have to set an overarching philosophy, juggle lineup configurations, and do the kind of “man management” that is impossible to track statistically.
In recent weeks, Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius has morphed into a bit of an agitator, often hitting opponents or exchanging some colorful words.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius has bounced back from a 13-game goal drought in emphatic fashion, recording his first hat trick for the Americans before scoring arguably the most dynamic goal of his rookie season.
When Americans coach Mike Leone examines Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius’ entire rookie season – his adjustment to the rigors of the AHL over his
In scoring five goals in his first 10 games, Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius sent early notice he was adapting to a different brand of hockey as an AHL rookie.
It’s official. The teams are set. The gold medal game of the 2025 World Junior Championship is here. Team USA is set to take on Team Finland in the rematch of an earlier group stage game, which the Finns took by a score of 4-3 in overtime.
The quarterfinals for this game were filled with physicality, great goaltending, and competition from both teams. Team Finland matched up against Team Slovakia for the fourth game of the day.
Finland closed their round-robin stage with a 3-0 victory over Latvia, securing a likely second-place finish in the standings. The game was marked by Finland’s balanced offense, strong defensive play, and standout performances from Player of the Game, Konsta Helenius.
The Buffalo Sabres on Monday assigned two of their top forward prospects – AHL rookies Konsta Helenius and Anton Wahlberg – from the Rochester Americans to their respective countries for the upcoming World Junior Championship.
Before Americans coach Mike Leone talked about how center Konsta Helenius’ soft hands and terrific vision created the tying goal, he brought up a mistake the rookie made early in Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Hershey Bears.
Not much has changed recently for Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius. Well, other than the three-game goal-scoring streak the center carries into tonight’s contest.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius arrived in North America a polished prospect, having spent two seasons playing pro hockey against men in his native Finland.
In Friday’s second period, Rochester Americans center Konsta Helenius grabbed a pass from linemate Viktor Neuchev in the slot, skated to the bottom of the right circle and beat goalie Artur Akhtyamov with an odd-angle shot.
In the opening minutes of his AHL debut, Konsta Helenius looked a bit overwhelmed, turning the puck over twice in his own zone during a power play. During a man advantage later in the first period, the Buffalo Sabres prospect fell down at the point, creating a breakaway for the Belleville Senators.
The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday loaned 10 players, including center Konsta Helenius, their first-round pick earlier this year, to the Rochester Americans and placed six players on waivers for the purpose of assigning them to their AHL affiliate.
The Buffalo Sabres prospects sealed a successful preseason, winning three of the four games against NHL teams. This time, it took a Graham Slaggert shorthanded goal in the third period, followed by an overtime powerplay one-timer blast by Konsta Helenius to carry the Sabres to the victory.
The Buffalo Sabres were finally handed their first preseason loss as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated them 6-3. The young Sabres group, destined for the AHL, carried a lead into the third period against an NHL Blue Jackets lineup but sputtered in the final frame.
Day three of training camp featured a scrimmage between the top players in the Buffalo Sabres organization. The main group, consisting of players presumed to make the NHL roster, were there as well as some notable additions.
The Buffalo Sabres have been stockpiling draft picks and high-end prospects for the better part of 15 years as they have been through multiple rebuilds and a 13-year playoff drought.
The Buffalo Sabres added another high-level prospect to their system when they selected forward Konsta Helenius in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
After going 14th overall in this summer’s draft and subsequently signing his entry-level contract, it appears Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius’ time in his native Finland is over for the foreseeable future.