Konsta Helenius Gets First NHL Call-Up as Sabres Stay Hot, But Will He Get a Shot?
BRIGHTON - The Buffalo Sabres are rolling. Winners of 15 of their last 17, they’ve found a rhythm that coach Lindy Ruff isn’t eager to disrupt. So when 19-year-old center Konsta Helenius got his first NHL call-up this week, it came with a bit of a caveat: he might not actually get into a game.
With Josh Norris listed day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, the Sabres brought up Helenius as insurance. But if Norris returns quickly, Helenius could be headed right back to Rochester without logging a single NHL shift. He was a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Canadiens, and with the Sabres set to host the Wild on Saturday, his status remains up in the air.
Still, even if his stay is short and he doesn’t dress, Helenius’ presence in Buffalo is a noteworthy step in his development - and a well-earned one.
The 13th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft has been a force for the Rochester Americans this season. In his second year in the AHL, Helenius has taken on a leading role, putting up nine goals and 30 points in 34 games while logging heavy minutes as the Amerks’ top center. He’s not just surviving against grown men - he’s driving play, dictating pace, and showing the kind of two-way maturity that teams crave down the middle.
And let’s not forget - he doesn’t turn 20 until May.
Just before getting the call to Buffalo, Helenius was named to the AHL All-Star Classic, set for February 11 in Rockford, Illinois. That nod speaks volumes about how much his game has grown in a short time.
So what’s been the difference this season?
According to Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal, it starts with Helenius’ mindset.
“He’s a lot more approachable, a lot more coachable compared to last year,” Prospal said. “That makes a huge difference in his development.”
That shift in attitude may have been fueled by watching other young forwards in the organization earn their NHL chances. Noah Ostlund has carved out a regular spot in Buffalo.
Isak Rosen has flashed upside in multiple stints. Trevor Kuntar impressed so much in Rochester that the Sabres signed him to an NHL deal and gave him his debut.
Helenius sees that - and he wants to be next.
“Maybe I’m easier to coach this year,” Helenius said with a grin. “But I don’t know. I’m not the coach.”
Amerks head coach Mike Leone has seen the transformation too. He and his staff haven’t gone easy on Helenius - and that’s by design.
“We coach him hard,” Leone said. “He accepts the coaching.
He’s a kid that wants to be coached hard. That’s what I appreciate about him.
He’s matured a lot as a player. He’s been really good.”
Leone pointed to consistency and attention to detail as the keys to Helenius’ growth. He’s skating with more purpose, playing more assertively, and showing a better grasp of the little things that separate NHL-caliber players from the rest.
“When he’s skating and he’s assertive in his play, he really has a huge impact on the game,” Leone said.
And according to Prospal, there’s still plenty of room to grow.
“He’s still probably at 75 percent of his capacity,” Prospal said. “He can be a lot better - distributing the puck, being more of a driver, more of a leader of the line.”
That’s not a knock - it’s a compliment. Helenius is already a high-impact player in the AHL, and his coaches believe he’s just scratching the surface.
They’re working with him on the finer points: staying connected to the play, making smart reads, and resisting the urge to cheat for offense. It’s about learning to do things the right way, not just the flashy way.
Last season, Helenius left the Amerks briefly to represent Finland at the World Juniors. This year, the Sabres kept him in Rochester over the holidays, believing the AHL offered a tougher, more beneficial challenge for his development.
“I’m trying to get to the NHL,” Helenius said. “I think this is the best place for me to play right now.”
Leone agreed, noting that playing against younger competition at the World Juniors might’ve allowed bad habits to creep back in.
“It’s going to be an easier game,” Leone said. “And you could lose some of that, where he is right now in his game.”
For now, Helenius is getting a taste of NHL life - practices, meetings, the pace of the show. Whether or not he gets into a game this time around, it’s a step forward. And if he keeps trending the way he has, it probably won’t be long before he’s not just up with the Sabres - he’s contributing.
Buffalo’s hot streak may delay his debut, but make no mistake: Konsta Helenius is knocking on the door.