ROCHESTER – In the not-so-distant past, Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius would’ve been anywhere but in front of the net battling an opponent.
“First half of the year … he would be somewhere in the corner, hiding in the second or third row, hiding in the weeds, you know?” Americans assistant coach Vinny Prospal told the Times Herald following Friday’s practice in Blue Cross Arena.
But Helenius, who turns 19 on Sunday, has matured throughout his rookie season, developing a better understanding of how he can succeed in the AHL.
The Finn has morphed into a grittier presence, winning more battles and getting under the opponent’s skin while focusing on improving the details in his game.
During the Amerks’ three-game sweep of the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL North Division semifinal, Helenius displayed a more complete game, recording one point in each contest.
In a 4-0 win in Game 2 on April 27, Helenius opened the scoring from – you guessed it – in front of the net, converting a rebound as he battled Syracuse defenseman Tobie Bisson.
The physicality he showcased was just one part of his first goal in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He created the score by outworking an opponent for the puck down low and sending it to the point.
“Then all of a sudden, (he) ends up around the net,” Prospal said. “(Bisson) loses (his) check, Konsta’s right there scoring the first goal of the hockey game. Great start for him, but what leads to it? All the things that he’s doing – getting first on the forecheck, getting there with physical play.”
After Helenius scored, he stared down Bisson and did not raise his stick.
“I didn’t say anything, but before that, he hit me and I fell,” said Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024. “Yeah, of course, I scored in front of him and he tried to box me out and he couldn’t. So I scored, I just stared him down.”
In recent weeks, Helenius has morphed into a bit of an agitator, often hitting opponents or exchanging some colorful words.
A little early physical contact or trash-talking goes a long way for him.
“He’s better off when he goes out there and the first shift of the game he hits somebody, or he gets into a conversation or like a trash-talk scrum, something like that,” Prospal said. “I think he’s been more engaged. He’s been more involved, and I think it helps him with his game.”
Amerks coach Mike Leone said Helenius acclimates to games in a similar fashion as Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand, the NHL’s foremost pest.
“You get the adrenaline and you’re ready,” Helenius said.
Leone doesn’t expect the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Helenius to fight anyone. But agitating the opposition has become a significant part of his game.
“He’s a first-round pick, he’s really skilled, but he has the ability to be like a (crap)-disturber,” he said. “It’s part of him, ingrained in his identity, I really think. When he’s engaged in the hockey game, you see Hele drawing penalties or in scrums.”
Leone, whose Amerks open their second-round series Wednesday against the Laval Rocket, believes that aggressive style has buoyed the slick youngster’s five-on-five play.
Counting the postseason, Helenius has scored six goals and eight points in his last eight games.
Prospal said focusing on details has helped Helenius, who has been playing right wing instead of center, his natural position, reach another level.
“I’m not going to say that I’m hard on him, but you can clearly see that he’s buying into playing more into our structure,” he said. “He has been, let’s say, last 30 games. And the playoffs is a good indicator of where he’s at right now. It’s turning (for) him. He has won his teammates on his side because he’s turned into more of a team player.”
Leone said Helenius possesses “a lot of confidence in a good way.”
“I think when he probably first came in, it was confidence in a different way,” he said. “Now he knows he can play in the league and be a really good player, and he’s fearless when it comes to that stuff.
“He’s not scared, and I think it’s showed in the playoffs, in the last month of the season.”
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The Sabres have hired Brian Galivan as their new director of performance. Galivan spent six years at USA Hockey. He most recently served as the US National Team Development Program’s director of sports science.
He replaces Ed Gannon.
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Leone said Amerks defenseman Vsevolod Komarov has been cleared to play after suffering a concussion in Game 2. The rookie practiced Friday.
1-0 thanks to Konsta Helenius @AmerksHockey | @BuffaloSabres #AHL #CalderCup #Sabrehood pic.twitter.com/5iBohFhWLR
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 27, 2025