Prospect Info: Konsta Helenius, RC, Jukurit (Liiga) - 14th Overall, 2024

[Sabresfansince1980]

Corey Pronman is basically calling out Adams for having a dumb drafting strategy in his latest pod

Maybe Pronman thinks we're set at C, but we sure as hell aren't. I blame him for the trade that left a huge hole in the C depth, I don't blame him for drafting a guy that could perfectly fill that hole. I still blame KA for causing a 3-4 year delay in having a prime-aged C in that spot, but that delay would be there no matter who he drafted.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

It’s difficult to be a GM for 5 seasons and not make the playoffs. If a respected industry member thinks he’s bad at his job, I tend to believe them since the results so far back that up.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

Maybe Pronman thinks we're set at C, but we sure as hell aren't. I blame him for the trade that left a huge hole in the C depth, I don't blame him for drafting a guy that could perfectly fill that hole. I still blame KA for causing a 3-4 year delay in having a prime-aged C in that spot, but that delay would be there no matter who he drafted.

Pronman is good but wrong in this case - plus how is Helenius like any of the other 1st rd guys we’ve drafted - different player type

 

[WeDislikeEich]

Really like this pick. He’s the guy I would have wanted at #11 of the players still on the board. Really liked Buium and Dickinson too but just didn’t see the need for another top 4 LHD.

I could even see Helenius getting a chance to compete for a bottom 6 C role as soon as this season if Adams isn’t able to add a good veteran 3C (which makes me kind of excited and sad at the same time. lol)

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

It’s difficult to be a GM for 5 seasons and not make the playoffs. If a respected industry member thinks he’s bad at his job, I tend to believe them since the results so far back that up.

I'm no KA apologist, but any GM going the draft and development route so hard as KA has done, will have little to show for it in on-ice results in 5 yrs...hell maybe 7 years. Drafting isn't the problem, it's team-building. That major hurdle has been partially self-inflicted by having Buffalo become a joke destination for any current NHLers under his tenure (and before to be fair).

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

There's no such thing as "set at C". Or D. Or G for that matter. It's always a good idea to draft good players at premium positions.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't necessarily disagree, however Helenius is an apple compared to the oranges.

Helenius can crosscheck those apples into cider. Hard cider.

 

[Chainshot]

Feels like Ostlund, but better defensively and feisty.

Stocky, mean, similar.

 

[Jussi]

name pronounced Hel-in-us per player, pham/wgr

Hele-nius would be more accurate.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Hele-nius would be more accurate.

incorrect, the source I posted got it directly from the player

 

[Faceboner]

Really like this pick. He’s the guy I would have wanted at #11 of the players still on the board. Really liked Buium and Dickinson too but just didn’t see the need for another top 4 LHD.

I could even see Helenius getting a chance to compete for a bottom 6 C role as soon as this season if Adams isn’t able to add a good veteran 3C (which makes me kind of excited and sad at the same time. lol)

A year or two in the ahl would be good he is what 190 lbs already put up really respectable numbers in the liiga he can come over play 4c with pp/pk time and play his way up to 2c

 

[Jussi]

incorrect, the source I posted got it directly from the player

That's not how you pronounce it. I'm Finnish, I know.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

That's not how you pronounce it. I'm Finnish, I know.

I have drank Finnish vodka

 

[Jussi]

I have drank Finnish vodka

Ok. I still know how to pronounce his name better than you. All the Finnish posters on this site can tell you that what you posted is not the way.

 

[Gsus]

I think you have a great player in Helenius. Could be playing the NHL as soon as the upcoming year already. Not sure if that is the best case for him, but time will tell. If he's ready at camp, why the heck not? Obviously the safer route would be playing in Finland one more year.

And for the record, it's Hele-nius. Source? West coast Finland for the last 27 years.

 

[Tatanka]

I'm no KA apologist, but any GM going the draft and development route so hard as KA has done, will have little to show for it in on-ice results in 5 yrs...hell maybe 7 years. Drafting isn't the problem, it's team-building. That major hurdle has been partially self-inflicted by having Buffalo become a joke destination for any current NHLers under his tenure (and before to be fair).

That is why draft and develop can’t be the main element of managing your team.

 

[old kummelweck]

Can he play in the AHL now? Adam's said they want him over here as soon as possible.

 

[Puppa2Miller]

Can he play in the AHL now? Adam's said they want him over here as soon as possible.

Yeah, he can play in the AHL. I think Finland is the smarter choice for now if he doesn't make the NHL. Things are working out there in a good league, why risk screwing up development?

 

[Meichel Kane]

Pronman's getting bitchy about The Sabres Forward pool
Corey Pronman - the Athletic “yet again, Buffalo takes a sub-6-foot forward with a premium pick. I get the best-player-available angle, but … they are backing themselves into a corner on the trade market by drafting the same player type over and over.”

"Sub-6-foot" is a weird categorization because there's a huge difference between 5-11 and like 5-8. Also this implies that the other sub-6-footers weren't good picks with the benefit of hindsight, which is... not true. Zach Benson is small so you can't take anyone under 6-2 ever again?

 

[Jussi]

Yeah, he can play in the AHL. I think Finland is the smarter choice for now if he doesn't make the NHL. Things are working out there in a good league, why risk screwing up development?

Yeah, his loan deal with Jukurit is over and he'd be playing for his parent club Tappara who just won the league. Grönborg coaches a very active hockey style and one would think that would be good for his development.

 

[Chainshot]

Going back to Liiga is fine if he doesn't make the team out of camp works.

 

[Zman5778]

Going back to Liiga is fine if he doesn't make the team out of camp works.

I'd almost rather him in Tappara, knowing how young Rochester is already slated to be.

 

[Chainshot]

I'd almost rather him in Tappara, knowing how young Rochester is already slated to be.

Same. I would also like to see some Dalton Smith types for the Amerks. They need some guns there.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Yeah, his loan deal with Jukurit is over and he'd be playing for his parent club Tappara who just won the league. Grönborg coaches a very active hockey style and one would think that would be good for his development.

I'm ashamed that it took me until this post to realize Jukurit and Jokerit are two different teams.

 

[57special]

Like the pick. On paper seems similar to a lot of what you have, but once you dig a bit deeper you find out differently. More of a two way player, who, if he doesn't work out in the top 6, can be a solid depth player. Average size, but a bit of a tank who had some nice results at the Combine tests. Plays with men, is feisty, and very smart.

Just fine, though i didn't like the trade in the 1st place, and still don't considering who was available at 11. I think that if Adams had waited he could've gotten a better haul for Dickinson/Buium, or just have taken Dickinson, handedness be damned.