18-year-old center could play in North America or return to Finland next season
The Buffalo Sabres completed their four-day Development Camp at LECOM Harborcenter with a three-on-three tournament on Thursday, with 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius performing as one of the most impressive youngsters. Helenius was selected 14th overall at the 2024 NHL Draft last week, and after the first round, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams was unsure of where the 18-year-old’s immediate future lies.
“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 is closer rather than further away," Adams said. "(Helenius) is a player that could be in Buffalo, Rochester. Anything's on the table."
The Sabres have approached their prospects on a case-by-case basis over the last few seasons. In the three previous drafts, first overall pick Owen Power stayed in college with Michigan until the following spring and stepped right into the NHL, Isak Rosen stayed in Sweden for one year before joining AHL Rochester, Noah Ostlund remained in the SHL for two years. Jiri Kulich came to the Amerks as an 18-year-old and has posted a pair of 20+ goal AHL campaigns, Matthew Savoie went back to the WHL twice, and Zach Benson made the NHL and stayed the whole season.
As for what lies ahead for Helenius, that determination will be made by the club and his representatives before training camp.
"I was fortunate to be at the (US National Development Program) with some really talented kids, I would put (Konsta) in that category with his poise, with the puck, his deception," newly hired Rochester head coach Mike Leone said on Thursday. "You could see the skill set he's played with men in the Finnish pro league and he had a really good day today……Obviously, there's a lot (of talent) in Rochester, but to work with a really talented player like (Helenius) would be great.”
