ROCHESTER – In his last outing before the Buffalo Sabres assigned him to the Americans, rookie Konsta Helenius shared the ice with Pittsburgh Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two hockey icons.
“I watched their highlight videos (growing up), so it was pretty cool,” Helenius said prior to Friday’s game against the Springfield Thunderbirds in Blue Cross Arena.
Earlier in his first trip to the NHL, Helenius, 19, faced Los Angeles Kings defenseman defenseman Drew Doughty, another future Hall of Famer.
Growing up in Finland, the center prospect loved using Doughty in his NHL video game.
“He had (a) really good slap shot, so I liked to play with him,” he said.
Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024, enjoyed plenty of unforgettable, welcome-to-the-NHL moments throughout his three-week stay in Buffalo.
He scored his first goal in his second game Jan. 20 in Nashville, part of a three-point night in a 5-3 victory over the Predators that ignited a five-game win streak. He played in Montreal and Toronto, two hockey hotbeds.
But over the last week, it became apparent the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Helenius, who skated as a winger throughout his nine-game stint, would be sent to the minors when the NHL’s Olympic break began.
His ice time began dipping. He sat out Monday’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers as a healthy scratch.
Following Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Penguins, the Sabres assigned Helenius, winger Isak Rosen and defenseman Zach Metsa to the AHL.
The Amerks, having been ravaged by recalls and injuries, sorely need reinforcements. They had scored just 15 goals while losing six of their last eight games entering Friday’s contest.
Helenius, Rosen and Metsa combined to score 31 goals and 75 points in 76 games this season.
Helenius, who had registered nine goals and 30 points in 34 games entering Friday, gives the Amerks a No. 1 center who plays at least 20 minutes per outing.
In Buffalo, he did not play on special teams and averaged 11 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time per game. On Thursday, he skated just 8 minutes, 2 seconds, his lowest total.
Still, like he has at each level in his short career, Helenius produced, albeit it briefly, in the NHL.
“You like to play those games,” said Helenius, who registered four points. “… It’s such fun to play there. You know that it’s full house, everyone is watching.”
Amerks coach Mike Leone said “there’s no moment that’s too big for him.”
“He has a quiet swagger and confidence in himself, and it’s a unique trait,” he said. “Many people don’t have it. It’s hard to explain unless you’re around him all the time.”
More development time, of course, will benefit the youngster. In the AHL, he will be one of the Amerks’ drivers.
“He got the opportunity in a way that he was earning the opportunity with his play here,” Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal said. “I actually think he was really good the first couple games, and then it’s obviously he’s not there yet to be the full-time NHLer.
“But it’s great for Helly to get the sniff, get the opportunity and also be able to now see where the level is in the NHL compared to the AHL.”
