BRIGHTON – Center prospect Konsta Helenius’ first recall to Buffalo could be brief. Right now, the Sabres are scorching, having won 15 of their last 17 games, and coach Lindy Ruff hasn’t tinkered with his lineup much over the past five weeks.
If Sabres center Josh Norris, who’s day to day with an upper-body injury, heals quickly, Helenius, 19, could be returned to the Rochester Americans without playing a game.
The Sabres, who host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center, scratched the Finn for Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Even if he stays for a few days and sits out some games, his arrival in the NHL after playing 99 games for the Amerks holds significance.
Yes, the Sabres needed an extra center for insurance. But Helenius, the 13th overall pick in 2024, earned his recall.
In his second season in Rochester, he has morphed into one of the Amerks’ drivers, scoring nine goals and 30 points in 34 games while regularly skating more than 20 minutes per outing as their No. 1 center.
Helenius doesn’t turn 20 until May 16.
Shortly before the Sabres summoned him Thursday, he was selected to represent the North Division at the AHL All-Star Classic on Feb. 11 in Rockford, Illinois.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Helenius caught fire as a rookie late last season before enjoying a breakout stretch in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
What has helped him reach another level this season?
“What’s stood out for me is he’s a lot more approachable, a lot more coachable player compared to last year, and it makes a huge difference in his development,” Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal told the Times Herald following practice Dec. 31 in Tim Hortons Iceplex.
Prospal said Helenius might be more tuned in because other forward prospects have earned opportunities ahead of him.
“He wants to be one of those guys as well,” Prospal said.
Noah Ostlund has become a regular with the Sabres. Isak Rosen stood out in different roles during his recent recalls. Trevor Kuntar played so well for the Amerks that the Sabres signed him to an NHL contract last month and he made his NHL debut.
“Maybe I’m easier to coach this year,” Helenius told the Times Herald. “But I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m not the coach.”
Amerks coach Mike Leone said he and his staff “coach him hard.”
“He accepts the coaching,” he said. “He’s a kid that wants to be coached hard. That’s what I appreciate about him. He’s matured a lot as a player. He’s been really good.”
Leone said consistency has helped Helenius thrive in a prominent role. He has focused on improving his habits and the details in his game.
“When he’s skating and he’s assertive in his play, he really has a huge impact on the game,” he said.
Prospal believes Helenius can have an even greater impact. He said the youngster’s “still probably at 75 percent of his capacity.”
“He still can be a lot better, let’s say, distributing the puck, being more of the driver, more of the leader of the line,” he said. “… There are times when we talk about being approachable, more coachable that we show the details of the game like skating a little bit more, supporting the play a little bit more, not leaving the zone at the opportunistic times, but like doing it the right way toward our team concept.”
Before Thursday, Helenius had been with one team, the Amerks, all season. Last year, the Sabres let him leave to play for Team Finland at the World Junior Championship.
But this year, the organization decided he was better off spending those two weeks around Christmas competing against men in the AHL.
“I’m trying to get to the NHL,” Helenius said. “I think this is the best place for me to play right now.”
Leone said some bad habits could’ve crept into Helenius’ game at the tournament.
“My personal opinion, I think it’s best for him to be here right now and continue to grow in his game, because what could happen is you got back, you play with younger kids, it’s going to be an easier game, and you could lose some of that, where he is right now in his game,” he said.