ROCHESTER – When Americans coach Mike Leone examines Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius’ entire rookie season – his adjustment to the rigors of the AHL over his first six months and 55 games in North America – he sees what he called a “net positive.”
Helenius, 18, arrived possessing notable pro experience, having spent two seasons playing in Liiga, a top-tier pro circuit in his native Finland.
By his second year with Jukurit, he developed into an offensive driver, enjoying one of the greatest seasons by an underage player in league history.
Given his status as the 14th overall pick in 2024 and exploits competing against men in Finland, it can be easy to forget Helenius is a raw youngster adapting to a different brand of hockey.
Remember, the AHL is widely considered to be the world’s second-best league.
“I think if you look at the whole, it’s been a productive season,” Leone said following Wednesday’s practice in Blue Cross Arena. “I mean, he’s an 18-year-old player. I know he played in the pro league (in Finland), but it’s a completely different game.”
The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Helenius has done some good things, producing nine goals and 29 points and providing the secondary scoring the Amerks expect.
While his skill set is evident, it will only take him so far. He must acclimate to a new standard and evolve into a multi-dimensional player. He needs to improve defensively and show more situational awareness.
“The biggest thing for me is you got to be reliable away from the puck, and his habits and details need to get better,” Leone said. “And those situations, this time of year, there’s five minutes left in the period, a minute left in the period, you got to get the puck in. He’s got to do a better job of understanding those situations.”
Leone said every young player he has coached thinks he will be evaluated based on their offensive output.
“It’s human nature for young kids to think they’re going to be judged on that, and it’s not,” he said. “I think (Buffalo center) Tyson Kozak, he could have zero points for the season, he’s playing on the Sabres because … he just does everything right.”
Leone said Helenius must “understand the points are going to come if you play the game right way.”
“He gets out there, he’s playing with really good players, he’s on the power play,” he said.
Helenius believes he has morphed into a sturdier all-around threat as the season has progressed.
“D-zone, it’s not a problem anymore for me,” said Helenius, who has scored two goals in his last 17 outings. “Maybe it was (a problem) in the beginning of the season, I had a couple of minus there.”
He said he has improved by trying to win more puck battles in practice. When that translates to game action, he can move faster out of the defensive zone and generate more offensive opportunities.
Just getting possession of the puck has been a problem for him.
The Amerks recently shifted Helenius to right wing because he was losing so many faceoffs. They moved him back to center over the weekend.
Leone said the neophyte has won well under 50 percent of his draws this season.
“I think he’s in the 40s,” he said. “If you don’t start with the puck, you’re going to be chasing the game.”
Leone said some games Helenius has won just 14, 15 or 25 percent of his faceoffs.
Of course, skating as a winger – he played alongside Josh Dunne, a newcomer Leone believes is perhaps the AHL’s best two-way center – is often a part of a young pivot’s maturation.
“We felt like, whole coaching staff, when Konsta was playing center, there was some defensive issues starting with the faceoff and then with some D-zone coverage and backchecking and stuff like that, which is normal at his age,” Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal said. “That’s why he’s playing in the American Hockey League.
“It’s a learning process, and being on the wing right now also gives him an opportunity to learn how to fight along the boards, because it’s an important detail for the coaches when you find out … if they’re responsible defensively, if they win that 50-50 battle, if they can win the puck wall battle and get our team on the offense instead of playing another 10, 15 seconds in the D-zone.”
Helenius, who enjoyed his position switch, said he has worked to improve his faceoffs by learning the tendencies of his opponents and using Dunne as a resource.
“I think it’s better and better because we work at it,” Helenius said.
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The Sabres, who host the Ottawa Senators tonight at KeyBank Center, had Monday off.
Center Dylan Cozens is expected to face the Sabres for the first time since they traded him to the Senators on March 7.