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

[LurkingInTheCup]

0+4 against Sweden in semis. Big game player? Tomorrow will tell.

 

[old kummelweck]

Good to see he can turn it on.

 

[golgoXIII]

what's going with Helenius? Seem's he turn pretty cold since the WJ

 

[Chainshot]

what's going with Helenius? Seem's he turn pretty cold since the WJ

They worked him back in slowly and right now he's not on one of the top 2 offensive lines - he's playing RW with Dunne as his center. Last night though, they got Aube-Kubel as their third and the line produced a bunch of goals, just nothing he hit the score sheet for.

 

[Chainshot]

This mid-season lull since returning from the U20's is starting to be concerning. I don't know if he's nursing something injury wise but he's been playing checking line RW with Dunne as his center and revolving LW (NAK for a few games, Neuchev again tonight) and he's just... not visible right now. Ostlund's been taking off as the 1C, being a nice contributor as Rosen and Murray have been both on a tear but Helenius is kind of missing in action.

 

[Chainshot]

Circling back around to this player, he’s not playing Center right now. He’s playing right wing. And the results weren’t there at Center which then had them move him to the wing, and honestly he looks gassed. He hasn’t bounced back from that U 20.

 

[toddkaz]

Circling back around to this player, he’s not playing Center right now. He’s playing right wing. And the results weren’t there at Center which then had them move him to the wing, and honestly he looks gassed. He hasn’t bounced back from that U 20.

Interesting observation, Ostlund sits out with an injury for 20 games and he is playing the best hockey of his career so far and Helenius has played a large amount of games in a shorter time. Almost at his Liiga game total and there is still 30 games to go...Hopefully Helenius will have an easier time on wing.

I wonder if it would have made more sense to have Helenius play in the CHL like Lambert did? I hate that the Sabres keep putting 18 year olds in the AHL and thats a tough jump.

 

[Chainshot]

Interesting observation, Ostlund sits out with an injury for 20 games and he is playing the best hockey of his career so far and Helenius has played a large amount of games in a shorter time. Almost at his Liiga game total and there is still 30 games to go...Hopefully Helenius will have an easier time on wing.

I wonder if it would have made more sense to have Helenius play in the CHL like Lambert did? I hate that the Sabres keep putting 18 year olds in the AHL and thats a tough jump.

I am a fossil and don't think players under 20 thrive in that environment. There are too many players who are already not only fully physically developed but also far more punishing. Early in the year - even at the rookie camp - Helenius would draw contact and get absolutely smoked along the boards. And he's the one who sees it coming and tries to bull through it. I appreciate the thought but he's a kid. When 28-year olds are pounding him into the wall because he's trying to challenge the contact, it takes a toll. It's possible he's dealing with the grind from all of that, then the disruption of the U20's and a lot of important hockey. They did keep him out and worked Wahlberg and him into the lineup slowly. But right now, he's not in the top 6 and honestly, the line is mostly Dunne and Neuchev (or tonight Slaggert). I only had one eye on the game and might rewatch it later, but I didn't see him involved physically at all.

Maybe he needs a night off. They certainly have the bodies and the players who can play a more robust third or fourth line style to rotate in. Hell, tonight, NAK, Warren, Jagger, and Tullio all sat and he played on the fourth line and was just sort of meh.

 

[Beerz]

This mid-season lull since returning from the U20's is starting to be concerning. I don't know if he's nursing something injury wise but he's been playing checking line RW with Dunne as his center and revolving LW (NAK for a few games, Neuchev again tonight) and he's just... not visible right now. Ostlund's been taking off as the 1C, being a nice contributor as Rosen and Murray have been both on a tear but Helenius is kind of missing in action.

Both Rosen and Kulich fell into that lull last year as well

 

[Chainshot]

Both Rosen and Kulich fell into that lull last year as well

Yep, after the AHL ASG too when they had the flight delays and all of that - they were just worn out. I suspect he'll be fine, development is rarely linear.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Both Rosen and Kulich fell into that lull last year as well

Honestly, as many games as these guys play in a season, it’s surprising that there isn’t more sitting guys just for the sake of rest and recovery like there is in baseball. Especially with players on either end of the aging curve who aren’t in their peak physical condition for the sport.

 

[Jim Bob]

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius moves to wing, learning to evolve in Rochester - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius has done some good things, producing nine goals and 29 points and providing the secondary scoring the Americans expect.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com