BUFFALO – After forward Konsta Helenius took an ill-advised hooking penalty with the Sabres clinging to a late one-goal lead, coach Lindy Ruff had two options.
Ruff could’ve benched Helenius, 19, for the final minutes of Tuesday’s preseason game. After all, an offensive-zone penalty at a critical time is a no-no.
“Or I could see what his next shift was going to be like,” Ruff said following the Sabres’ 2-1 home win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ruff chose the latter. Helenius, the 13th overall pick in 2024, was enjoying a standout night to that point, showcasing his burgeoning confidence and skill.
Earlier in the third period, the prospect dazzled in the offensive zone – “The stutter step, the couple jukes,” Ruff said – before creating winger Jason Zucker’s go-ahead goal.
“One heck of a shift,” Ruff said.
So as Columbus pressed for the tying goal with an extra attacker, Ruff felt comfortable throwing Helenius into a heavy five-on-six situation.
“It means a lot,” Helenius said Thursday morning in KeyBank Center before playing in the Sabres’ road game against the Detroit Red Wings. “He gave me a chance to cover that penalty, and I think I did well. It’s nice to get late-game minutes there.”
The Finn rewarded him by making two plays at the blue line to get the puck out and help secure the win..
Ruff said Helenius’ “game was probably one of the best I’ve seen.”
“I liked his answer after he took the penalty,” he said. “Came out, gave us a heck of a shift and had an opportunity inside the zone where they could have beat him. … His stick detail and his battle was real good.”
However, Helenius’ stick should’ve been on the ice when he hooked Columbus defenseman Stanislav Svozil 15:20 into the third period.
“That is stuff that we spend a lot of time talking about, and it’s stuff that we need to make sure the details of not taking those types of penalties,” Ruff said.
But one penalty can’t spoil Helenius’ standout training camp. So far, he has played all three preseason games.
While he’s likely destined to begin the season with the Rochester Americans, if he keeps developing, he should be in the mix to earn his first recall to Buffalo.
As a rookie last season in the AHL, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Helenius improved down the stretch, adapting to the North American game and displaying a more rugged style.
“It’s a different league where I played,” said Helenius, who spent two seasons playing pro hockey against men in Finland. “You got to modify your game, like the game asks you to play.”
He scored five of his 14 regular-season goals in the final five games. He kept producing during the Calder Cup Playoffs, recording three goals and six points in eight contests.
In the Amerks’ series against the Laval Rocket, he morphed into perhaps their best forward.
Ruff has noticed the youngster has added grit to complement his talent.
“Competitive nature, the hardness he’s trying to play with, getting involved physically,” Ruff said of Helenius’ growth. “Even the prospect games, getting involved physically and trying to be a hard player. We know he’s got some real good skill.”
Helenius displayed some of his talent with less than a minute remaining in Monday’s 4-0 win in Columbus when he grabbed a pass at the blue line and skated down the right wing toward Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves.
A scoring opportunity in the waning seconds of the preseason opener hardly seems important, especially when you’re up 3-0.
Still, Ruff wanted Helenius to convert his prime chance.
“If you’re going to be a player in this league, that’s one that you need to put away,” he said.
When Helenius reached the circle, a Columbus defender slid by him, allowing him to unleash a wicked wrist shot and beat Greaves.
“I think the key word is steps,” Ruff said. “He’s taken steps in the right direction. To me, he looks stronger, he looks confident. He’s making a few more plays, skating looks good. So he’s doing all the right things.”
Helenius, 4-0 #LetsGoBuffalo #CBJ pic.twitter.com/VgCEjtew4n
— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) September 23, 2025