Konsta Helenius is already drawing attention as the kind of rookie who can change the conversation in Buffalo.
The 20-year-old Finn flashed that upside when the Sabres called him up from their Black Aces practice squad during their second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in May. He didn’t just get a look - he scored two goals in four games and made his presence felt right away.
That late-season cameo only added to what Helenius did in Rochester last year. In 63 games for the AHL’s Americans, he piled up 63 points, finishing with 21 goals and 42 assists.
Those numbers, paired with the way he attacked the ice, are why Buffalo sees him as more than just another prospect. The Sabres are hoping he becomes a real building block for a team that believes it’s close to Stanley Cup contention.
The buzz is starting to spread beyond Buffalo, too. The Athletic placed Helenius No. 6 on its preseason list of Calder Trophy contenders, with Scott Wheeler labeling him a “sleeper pick” for the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
“Jiri Kulich's return lowers his likelihood of a top-six/prominent power-play role, but the Sabres are going to have three legitimate lines up front, two legitimate power plays, and between his play in the NHL late last year and at men's worlds, he looks like he has really taken a step,” Wheeler wrote Tuesday. “... As things tend to go with the Calder, his role and/or opportunity on the power play will determine his realistic hopes, so that's worth monitoring in camp and early into the season for fantasy purposes.”
That opportunity piece is the whole game here. Calder races are often decided by ice time, and Helenius should get a real chance to earn it in training camp. He can play center or wing, and at 5-foot-11, he’s shown a willingness to drive into the most dangerous areas instead of living on the perimeter and settling for low-danger shots.
His AHL production came in tough conditions, too. Rochester was battered by injuries and Sabres call-ups, and once Isak Rosen was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in March, Helenius was often carrying the offense himself.
Now he’s headed into a Buffalo forward group that likes to push the pace and attack. That should suit him. His postseason showing suggested he’s ready for the grind of nightly NHL hockey, and the Sabres are going to give him every chance to prove it.
The biggest opening might be in the middle of the ice. Buffalo has spent years searching for a true No. 1 center.
Tage Thompson has handled that spot in recent seasons, but the team could get more out of him on the wing, where his defensive and faceoff issues would matter less. Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich have also spent time there and remain in the mix, but Helenius belongs in that conversation, too.
There’s even a path where he lands between Thompson and Zach Benson, a setup that could unlock plenty for Buffalo. Helenius helped Finland win gold at the IIHF World Championship during the offseason, and the Sabres have already seen enough to know he deserves a shot at a top-line role.
If that doesn’t happen, the Calder door still isn’t closed. The most likely outcome is that he starts in the middle six, but Buffalo’s depth means he’d still be surrounded by enough talent to produce.
The Sabres also need help on the power play, and fresh faces could get a chance to spark that unit in 2026-27. Helenius should be near the front of that line.
He won’t be alone in the rookie race. The Athletic’s top three Calder hopefuls were the Philadelphia Flyers’ Porter Martone, the San Jose Sharks’ Ivar Stenberg and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna.
But Helenius has a real shot to stay in the mix if Buffalo lets him run once the season starts.
In Other News...
Sabres Young Core Suddenly Faces Pressure That Could Define Buffalos Rise
Buffalos next step is going to lean heavily on its young core, and the pressure is already obvious. Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson and Tage Thompson are all expected to take on more responsibility in the coming season, with the club asking for more production and more stability from the group as it tries to keep moving forward.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about promising talent, it is about whether those players can become the backbone of a rising team. Dahlin and Thompson are already established pieces, while Benson, Helenius and Kulich are being counted on to grow into larger roles, and Buffalos hopes for the 2026-27 season may depend on how quickly that transition happens. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Camp Battle Could Reshape Two Crucial Spots In Ruffs Lineup
Training camp has a way of turning every depth chart into a referendum, and for Lindy Ruff, Buffalos next few weeks could shape more than just the opening-night lineup. The Sabres still have some important sorting to do up front, where the coaching staff is weighing the top-nine forwards and trying to settle on a look that fits around its core pieces. Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Jason Zucker are all in the mix for roles, and the picture could shift again if the front office makes a trade before camp breaks.
There is similar uncertainty on the back end, where the Sabres are also evaluating defensive pairs and looking for the right partner for Owen Power on the second unit. Those decisions tend to ripple through the rest of the roster, especially when a few spots remain open and competition is tight enough to make every practice rep matter. By the time camp ends, Buffalo may have a clearer idea of who fits where, but it still sounds like a lineup with one more surprise waiting to happen. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Still Loom Over The Sabres Playoff Race
Even after Buffalo knocked Boston out of the playoffs last spring, the Bruins still look like the kind of opponent that can shape the Sabres season. The Atlantic Division remains crowded, the rivalry has plenty of recent history, and Boston did not make many sweeping changes to its roster, which keeps the matchup familiar for both sides. Buffalo also knows the regular season told a different story than that postseason upset, so the Sabres cannot lean on last years playoff breakthrough as proof the edge has shifted for good.
The concern for Buffalo is that the Bruins still project as a direct obstacle in the standings, not just a familiar rival on the schedule. With both teams expected to stay in the same thick group of contenders, every head-to-head game can carry extra weight, especially if the race tightens late and the margins get small. Bostons offseason move involving a former Sabres forward only adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could decide more than bragging rights. [Read more 🡒]