F Konsta Helenius (2024, 14th, BUF)

[Our Lady Peace]

I feel he's a bit like a JG Pageau and would bet that's what he turns into. I don't see high offensive upside but there is something there at least. Pageau is still an excellent player to draft in the 14-20 range

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Helenius has signed a contract with Tappara. Tappara has been the best team in the Liiga for the past few years. Of course, it is also possible that he plays in North America next season.

 

[Torspo21]

Helenius has signed a contract with Tappara. Tappara has been the best team in the Liiga for the past few years. Of course, it is also possible that he plays in North America next season.

He signed the contract already two years ago, and was loaned to Jukurit.

 

[FinPanda]

I thought he played well against Sweden. Probably helped that he played with players he knew, so he felt more comforrable.

 

[Hntz]

Yeah he looked like he belonged to the team vs. Sweden, and was one of the more noticeable players. Craig Button also has him now ranked #3 on his list, so I guess he liked what he saw as well. Weird that it hasn't been posted on HF though..?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Then there was Kakko who played great in Liiga and in the WHC and degraded into a 4th line forward in the NHL.

Kakko has rarely played 4th line in the NHL. Even the last two games where he was scratched for game 2 and then returned for game 3 he went from outside the lineup to 3rd line after a 4th liner got injured. Cuylle was moved down to the fourth line as opposed to having Kakko slot in on the fourth line. Kakko has pretty much always been utilized as a top 9 forward, except the occasional game here or there that every young forward gets on the fourth line when they upset the coach.

Reminds me a bit of Trochek. Undersized but feisty. Not a mean as Trochek but probably a bit more skilled.

Lacks the same skating.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I feel he's a bit like a JG Pageau and would bet that's what he turns into. I don't see high offensive upside but there is something there at least. Pageau is still an excellent player to draft in the 14-20 range

I said Erik Haula and people got mad. Erik Haula is top 9 on pretty much any team in the league. You’ll take that in the 10-15 range.

 

[Xirik]

I see him as Nick Suzuki maxing out at Nico Hischier

He's a Center in a draft year where there aren't m any high end centers, He's the 2nd best Center in the draft and will probably be drafted in in the 7-12 range.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Kakko has rarely played 4th line in the NHL. Even the last two games where he was scratched for game 2 and then returned for game 3 he went from outside the lineup to 3rd line after a 4th liner got injured. Cuylle was moved down to the fourth line as opposed to having Kakko slot in on the fourth line. Kakko has pretty much always been utilized as a top 9 forward, except the occasional game here or there that every young forward gets on the fourth line when they upset the coach.

Okay. Replace the 4th line with 3rd line in my comment. The same sentiment remains. Thanks for the semantics I suppose.

 

[Albatros]

Kakko's by far most common linemates this season were Zibanejad and Kreider.

 

[Henkka]

Tappara has been the best team in the Liiga for the past few years.

Of course, it is also possible that he plays in North America next season.

Zero European drafted players were sent to AHL from last 2023 draft. Mostly they returned to old European teams or moved to NCAA. Someone went to OHL/WHL.

 

[mattihp]

Miettinen with a better shot. A very good third cog.

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Buffalo

 

[Chainshot]

I'm pleased with the pick. They needed center and right shot, they got both in a smart, hard working player.

 

[Faceboner]

I'm pleased with the pick. They needed center and right shot, they got both in a smart, hard working player.

3 rhc down the middle in about 2-3 years
Thompson-cozens-helenius 2 matchup cs good for about 60 points and a 30+ goal scorer who probably bounces back to a 40 goal guy

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

3 rhc down the middle in about 2-3 years
Thompson-cozens-helenius 2 matchup cs good for about 60 points and a 30+ goal scorer who probably bounces back to a 40 goal guy

I'd bet that Cozens converts to wing before that happens.

Great choice by Buffalo, though I expected they would take a RD since that's the big organizational need.

 

[Faceboner]

I'd bet that Cozens converts to wing before that happens.

Great choice by Buffalo, though I expected they would take a RD since that's the big organizational need.

With the way lindy plays he likes to roll the lines and having 3 lines with top 6 cs he will have a heyday

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Didn’t like the pick for Buffalo. Helenius at 14 is good value, but what you end up with is like Savoie. There are too many of these small forward prospects they compile and then when you have to trade some of them you don’t get good value because the ones you want to trade are going to be those with low stock.

 

[emptyNedder]

There are too many of these small forward prospects

Thus the two schools of thought: BPA or BP who fits need. I think outside a top 10 pick it makes sense to lean toward the latter, because there are typically a range of players in the same tier.

That said, I think Helenius was a smart pick at 14.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Didn’t like the pick for Buffalo. Helenius at 14 is good value, but what you end up with is like Savoie. There are too many of these small forward prospects they compile and then when you have to trade some of them you don’t get good value because the ones you want to trade are going to be those with low stock.

They’re completely different prospects though

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

They’re completely different prospects though

So what? You’re gonna be trading more small forwards whose value is low and then get McLeod back for the 9th or 14th OA pick.

 

[ameselare]

The issue isn't just Helenius and Savoie, it's the absolute glut of 5'11" and under prospects that Buffalo has in their system right now, going back to what - the 2020 draft? Yes they're different types of prospects/players but NHL execs are on their "big is best" kick right now, so they've backed themselves into a corner here.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Traded after three four years.

 

[Chainshot]

The issue isn't just Helenius and Savoie, it's the absolute glut of 5'11" and under prospects that Buffalo has in their system right now, going back to what - the 2020 draft? Yes they're different types of prospects/players but NHL execs are on their "big is best" kick right now, so they've backed themselves into a corner here.

Helenius also projects out to a center right now than any of their others and down lineup possibility that the others do not.

 

[ameselare]

Helenius also projects out to a center right now than any of their others and down lineup possibility that the others do not.

Sabres had this same issue before they even drafted him