ROCHESTER – In scoring five goals in his first 10 games, Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius sent early notice he was adapting to a different brand of hockey as an AHL rookie.
Then the Americans center endured a 10-game goal drought. After scoring again Dec. 4, he began a 17-game goalless stretch that ended 10:06 into Friday’s 4-0 win over the Belleville Senators
Helenius spent the last two seasons playing pro hockey in Liiga, a top-tier pro circuit in his native Finland, so he’s used to competing against men. Last year, he scored 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games for Jukurit, huge numbers for a teenager.
Still, the AHL, as the youngster has recently learned, is widely regarded as the world’s second-best league for good reason. It can be unforgiving.
So while Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024, possesses a mature game and a high hockey IQ for an 18-year-old, he’s still learning the rigors of pro hockey.
“(He’s successful) when he’s engaged in the game, when he’s skating and when he’s competing, when he’s staying on pucks,” Amerks coach Mike Leone said in Blue Cross Arena. “He went through a stretch, probably before the (all-star) break, where he was really struggling. Moved him to the wing.
“I think with a center as an 18-year-old kid, it’s a lot of responsibility, and at this time of the year, it’s you got to play responsible, you got to be above the puck. You can’t cheat the game for offense.”
The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Helenius was back at center when he beat Belleville goalie Leevi Merilainen from the right circle.
He acknowledged the goal took some weight off his shoulders.
“Maybe you start thinking that you should do something differently, but, yeah, I think I still had chances to score,” said Helenius, who produced seven assists during his recent goal drought.
Helenius, who briefly left the Amerks in December to participate in the World Junior Championship, performed so well Friday that Leone utilized him when Belleville pulled Merilainen for an extra attacker.
“I thought he deserved to go out there at the end,” Leone said.
Helenius has compiled seven goals, 28 points and an even rating in 38 games with the Amerks this season.
