Helenius will join Ostlund, Kulich as youngsters in lineup

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - A Buffalo Sabre has scored the Golden Goal for the second straight season at the World Championship. Last year it was Tage Thompson winning it for Team USA and Team Finland held a roster spot open for Konsta Helenius and boy are they happy they did as he played along side captain Aleksander Barkov and scored the Golden Goal for the Fins on Sunday. In six games after the Sabres were eliminated, Buffalo's first round pick in 2024 had three goals and three assists.

Helenius was one of the Black Aces during the series against the Boston Bruins and then the Sabres elevated him to regular practice knowing there was nobody that could play in the top six if there was an injury.

Lindy Ruff knew he had to make changes trailing the Canadiens two games to one with Game 4 in the crazy atmosphere of the Bell Center. It's not like anything you've ever seen in sports and there was no question, the Sabres were intimidated by it in Game 3.

Ruff met with the coaching staff and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and there was some doubt. They too were worried putting a 19-year-old kid in his first Stanley Cup playoff game in that environment. At then end of the day, they decided to put the kid in because they know the confidence that he has. He did play a regular season game in Montreal, but this was a whole different thing. Afterwards, Helenius just shrugged his shoulders and said it was no big deal, all it was was a hockey game. The kid made a difference in Game 4 playing 12:53 and was one of Buffalo best players in a 3-2 win.

In Game 5 he had a goal on five shots and in Game 6 in Montreal, an elimination game for Buffalo Helenius had a goal to help send the series back to Buffalo for Game 7.

In nine regular season games Helenius had four points and in Rochester he had 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points in 63 games. He added three points in three playoff games with the Amerks and he felt the season went well, especially since he got better as it went along,

"Overall it was a great season, but I think I had a great camp, didn't make the team, went to Rochester and just played well there, then I got a chance to play here and it was a great experience and it was easy to come here and play with the boys, they helped me a lot and then I went back to 'Roch' and I knew if I wanted to play in the NHL, I needed to get a bit better, tried to get better every day there and they prepare you well to get to the NHL, so when I got a chance to come here later to play to be a Black Ace, I knew I had a great season, so if I get a chance to play, I just want to show that I can help the team to win, so when I got the chance, I just tried to do my best."

Two fellow Fins helped Helenius when he got to Buffalo. First it was Henri Jokiharju and then this season it was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen even lent the kid his car which he proceeded to get into an accident with, but the Sabres goaltender pretty much just laughed it off, he didn't seem too concerned.

In Rochester, Helenius would pass up many opportunities looking for teammates. Assistant coach Vinny Prospal encouraged him to shoot more and he listened.

Helenius said his first season in Rochester was tough, but this year head coach Mike Leone wanted him to play faster with the puck and it made him a much better player. We are also already seeing what I had heard from many on the day he was drafted 14th overall. Many, including Kevyn Adams were shocked he was still there at 14 and I had quite a few scouts tell me that Buffalo got a steal at 14. Five of the seven picks before Helenius were defensemen. Adams and his staff got their guy at 14.

There's no question in my mind that the AHL careers of Helenius, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich are over. All are first round picks and all will be Sabres next year if they aren't traded. The great thing about Ostlund and Helenius they both play just as well on the wing as they do at center. Kulich has trouble on the wing and is much better at center. He proved that at the end of the 2024-25 season when he centered for Zach Benson and Tage Thompson and the line played well. Thompson can't wait for these young players to be a big part of this team,

"Konsta was one of those guys that came in and I didn't really know a whole lot about his game and for being such a young guy, the way he plays the game is so mature and he's got incredible skill and the ability to make plays and score goals, but the maturity in his game I think is pretty remarkable to be thrown into a playoff series like that and to be rock solid, I was pretty impressed, so I'm really excited to see the summer he has and coming into camp, he's going to be a big piece moving forward."

The question now becomes with these three young players ready to start making their marks in the NHL, will that affect how Kekalainen handles the negotiations with Alex Tuch? He already has said the contract must allow them to keep getting better as a team. July 1 is the deadline.

The NHL Scouting Combine started on Monday in Buffalo. The most important parts for the teams are the interviews that will be happening with the teams and the players. the testing on Friday and Saturday is more for the strength and conditioning coaches.