Sabres 2024 first-round pick signed a three-year entry-level contract on Monday
The Buffalo Sabres signing of 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday comes on the heels of the 18-year-old’s impressive performance at the club’s Development Camp last week.
The young Finn was selected 14th overall at the 2024 NHL Draft last month and GM Kevyn Adams seemed open after the selection to bringing the young center to North America after scoring 36 points with Jukurit in the Finnish SM-Liiga last season and playing for his country at the 2024 World Juniors and World Championships.
"We want to make sure we're putting a player in a position to succeed, but this is a player that we have really high expectations for and we think (he) is closer rather than further away," Adams said. "(He) is a player that could be in Buffalo, Rochester, anything's on the table.....We're always open to things and we want to hear what the player has to say and the agents in terms of what they feel is the best for their development, but this is a player we'd like to get over here as fast as possible."
New Rochester head coach Mike Leone was impressed with the poise and puck skills of Helenius, but was hesitant to say whether he would benefit more from playing in the AHL and competing at Sabres training camp in September or playing another year in Finland. The biggest factor may be how much opportunity the 18-year-old will get.
Even after the trade of Matthew Savoie, the Amerks could be so loaded with young prospects needing playing time to develop that Helenius might benefit from another year in Liiga. Jiri Kulich is expected to challenge for an NHL roster spot but could end up back in the AHL for a third season, 20-year-old Noah Ostlund is expected to play full-time in Rochester after a full season with Vaxjo in the SHL, and 2023 second-rounder Anton Wahlberg acquitted himself very well in a brief AHL stint at the end of last season but could return to Malmo.
