The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. It was a combination of staff writers and over 200 readers that ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2024. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player. Staff votes counted equally with reader votes.
Konsta Helenius
Drafted: 2024 – 1st Round (14th Overall)
Position: Center
Born: May 11, 2006 (18 years old)
2023-24 Stats: Jukurit (Liiga): 14-22-36 +10 PIM in 51 GP
2023 T25U25 Ranking: N/A
Finnish forward Konsta Helenius is one of hockey’s top young prospects and the Sabres drafted him at 14th in the NHL Draft’s 1st Round this year. He not only enjoyed a 14-22-26 record playing for Finland’s best league, Liiga, he also did well in two separate championships. His numbers in the World Junior Championships Under 18 and Under 20 were 0-7-7 and 1-1-2, respectively.
Elite Prospects said Helenius is “a well-rounded, detailed play-driver who is always a step ahead of the opposition. He stays with his check, takes away passing and shooting options with a strong defensive stick and refuses to get outworked in puck battles and on retrievals.” While Buffalo D-man Rasmus Dahlin is an offensive-minded defenseman, Helenius seems to be the opposite, a defensive-minded forward. The Sabres need players who can control the puck and take away opponent’s scoring chances, an ability Helenius possesses.
Another area where Helenius could help is in shootouts. During the Sabres’ development camp in July, he beat 2023 draftee goalie Scott Ratzlaff for the game-winning goal in a 3-on-3 tournament at HarborCenter. While Helenius will face tougher, more seasoned netminders when he reaches the NHL, having the skill to defeat opposing goalies 1-on-1 is something not every forward masters.
The Sabres are excited about their new prospect, with GM Kevyn Adams saying “we see a winning hockey player. Someone who’s going to play center for us and help us win hockey games.” It looks like the team may not wait for Helenius to spend a stint in Rochester, with the young Finnish forward already on the team’s roster this year, according to NHL.com. While that could change between now and October, there’s a good possibility Helenius will wear a Buffalo jersey when the regular season starts.