The Buffalo Sabres have made it official with one of their first-round draft choices. News broke on Monday afternoon that Konsta Helenius signed a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal is for three years, but terms of the deal were yet to be disclosed.
Making it official! ✍️
We have signed Konsta Helenius to a three-year entry-level contract.
Details: https://t.co/d0JwhQcQtY pic.twitter.com/SD9R7nfv4U
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 8, 2024
Konsta Helenius Signed By Sabres
Helenius was the team’s 14th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old is the first member of Buffalo’s draft class to sign his entry-level deal. He totaled 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 51 games in Finland’s SM-Liiga. The Ylöjärvi, Finland native played for Jukurit and had the fourth-highest single-season total by an under-18 player in Liiga history. Only Aleksander Barkov, Kaapo Kakko and Mikael Granlund had acheived the feat before.
Helenius earned a spot on the Finland’s senior squad at the 2024 IIHF World Championships thanks to his strong season. He totaled one assist in four games during the tournament while taking on NHL and other professional players.
The youngster also played at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships for the fourth-place team. Helenius totaled a goal and an assist in seven games in the tournament held in Sweden.
What It Means
Buffalo is in the midst of a league-worst 13-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought. The pressure is on General Manager Kevyn Adams to have meaningful hockey come to Western New York for the first time in over a decade. Helenius may not be part of the plan at the moment, but he has the potential to be a part of the core down the way.
The Sabres do have some exciting young prospects, but the time for winning is now. Many of these young prospects need to take the next step sooner rather than later. Buffalo is hoping Helenius will make his way to North American and be part of the AHL Rochester Americans and their strong young club.
Main photo by: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
