Buffalo prospect Konsta Helenius skates Friday during his debut with Rochester. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius looks sharp late in Rochester debut

ROCHESTER – In the opening minutes of his AHL debut, Konsta Helenius looked a bit overwhelmed, turning the puck over twice in his own zone during a power play. During a man advantage later in the first period, the Buffalo Sabres prospect fell down at the point, creating a breakaway for the Belleville Senators.

But as Friday’s game progressed, Helenius, 18, settled in, displaying some of the talent that made him the 14th overall pick earlier this year.

The Finnish center adroitly fed Josh Dunne a breakaway pass that goalie Leevi Merilainen stymied. He also drew an interference penalty.

“Maybe the first period wasn’t my best period, but after that like you’re getting better and better and I got more chances,” Helenius said following the Americans’ 3-2 season-opening loss in Blue Cross Arena.

With the Amerks trailing by one late, coach Mike Leone leaned on him heavily as they pushed for the tying goal.

Leone noticed the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Helenius grew more comfortable later in the game.

“I thought he did some good things,” he said.

Helenius registered zero points, three shots on goal and a minus-1 rating in his first regular-season game in North America.

Leone awarded the youngster plum assignments, having him pivot prospects Lukas Rousek and Isak Rosen and man a point on the power play.

“He’s a humble kid that wants to be great, so I think he’s got all the tools in the world,” Dunne said of Helenius. “… It’s awesome for this locker room just the compete that he has and the person that he is.”

Helenius spent the last two seasons playing pro hockey in Finland.

Update: Helenius registered zero points, two shots on goal, a plus-1 rating and took a high-sticking penalty in Saturday’s 4-1 road win over the Utica Comets.

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