When the Buffalo Sabres needed an offensive spark during their second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens back in May, they elevated Konsta Helenius from their Black Aces practice squad and he quickly made his presence felt, scoring two goals in four games.
Now the Sabres are hoping Helenius, who recorded 63 points (21 goals and 42 assists) in 63 appearances for the AHL's Rochester Americans last season, can emerge as a foundational piece of a roster on the verge of Stanley Cup contention.
The 20-year-old Finnish forward will be given every opportunity to earn a full-time NHL roster spot in training camp, and he's already starting to generate buzz as a challenger for the Calder Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year.
Helenius was ranked No. 6 by The Athletic on a preseason list of Calder contenders, with the outlet's Scott Wheeler calling him a "sleeper pick" for the prestigious honor.
"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."
Helenius' potential impact has been vastly underrated by several North American publications leading up to the 2026-27 season, but perhaps the tide is beginning to shift.
The 5-foot-11 playmaker is capable of playing either center or wing, and he's showcased an impressive amount of fearlessness when it comes to attacking the most dangerous areas of the ice offensively. He doesn't hang around the perimeter firing off a bunch of low-danger shots.
His elite production in the AHL last season came despite an extremely limited supporting cast due to Amerks injuries and Sabres call-ups. In fact, he was often a one-man offensive band after fellow prospect Isak Rosen was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in March.
Now Helenius is set to join a young, talented Buffalo forward group that loves to play an up-tempo, attacking brand of hockey. His skill set should allow him to fit right in, and his play in the postseason suggests he's prepared to handle the rigors of the NHL on a nightly basis.
As a result, the elements are definitely in place for him to make a serious Calder Trophy push.
Konsta Helenius could emerge as the Buffalo Sabres' first-line center in 2026-27
As Wheeler alluded, a significant factor in the Calder race is opportunity. Which rookies are going to receive enough ice time, both at even strength and on the power play, to rack up the necessary points to remain in the award conversation over the course of 84 games?
Helenius certainly has a chance.
The Sabres have spent years trying to find a true No. 1 center. Tage Thompson has typically filled the role in recent seasons, but the franchise could maximize the superstar's impact on the wing because it'd limit the effect of his defensive and faceoff deficiencies.
Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich have held the role briefly in the past, and they're contenders again heading into training camp, but Helenius should also be in the mix.
Putting the 5-foot-11 forward, who played a pivotal role to help Finland win a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship during the offseason, between a high-end offensive player in Thompson and a two-way workhorse like Zach Benson could create magic for Buffalo.
Yes, there would be legitimate questions about how a rookie would handle the wide-ranging responsibilities of being a top-line center, but he's passed every test the Sabres have thrown at him so far. At minimum, he deserves a shot at winning the job.
Even if Helenius ends up somewhere in the club's middle six, which is the most likely outcome (at least to open the campaign), he'll still possess Calder upside.
Buffalo has a tremendous amount of forward depth, which means playing anywhere in the top nine will leave him surrounded by enough offensive talent to produce points consistently.
In addition, the Sabres' power play has been a source of frustration in recent years, so giving some fresh faces a chance to boost the special-teams unit in 2026-27 should be in the cards. Helenius will be near the front of the line for those opportunities.
There's no shortage of competition, of course. It's shaping up to become a star-studded rookie class, with the Philadelphia Flyers' Porter Martone, San Jose Sharks' Ivar Stenberg and Toronto Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna chosen as the top three Calder hopefuls by The Athletic.
Nevertheless, Helenius has the ability to keep pace with all of them if the Sabres give him the green light once the regular season gets underway.
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