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Helenius reaching elite standing in second 12 months with Rochester
Apr 7, 2026
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
Konsta Helenius’ title comes up in dialog when in comparison with different nice Buffalo Sabres prospects. The likes of Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and Derek Roy come to thoughts, all of whom had been sporting pink, white, and blue in Rochester earlier than Helenius was born.
However the Finnish first-round select of Buffalo’s 2024 NHL Draft class is doing one thing none of these gamers had achieved. The truth is, Helenius is having a season by no means earlier than seen within the historical past of the Rochester People.
With an help on Gavin Bayreuther’s aim on Apr. 1 towards Charlotte, Helenius recorded his fifty fifth level, turning into the Amerks all-time single-season factors chief by an adolescent. He surpassed Jozef Cierny, who amassed 54 factors (27+27) in the course of the 1992-93 AHL season.
On the time, gasoline was about $1.13 a gallon, the everyday household of 4 may get every week’s price of groceries for round $125.00, the sitcom Cheers was in its ultimate season, and Helenius was 13 years from being born.
“What about (JJ) Peterka,” requested Helenius when knowledgeable of this milestone.
Peterka did file 68 factors with Rochester in 2021-22, however turned 20 years of age in January of that season. Konsta stays an adolescent till Might 11.
“He’s been actually coachable,” mentioned Amerks head coach Michael Leone. “He has pure instincts that you just don’t need to take away, and I believe he’s getting rewarded for enjoying the sport the suitable means.”
After a 35-point (14+21) rookie marketing campaign, Helenius was challenged to enhance his play away from the puck. These changes have led to extra possession time, as he’s shattered his ceiling from a 12 months in the past with an All-Star season, main all Amerks with 59 factors (19+40).
Amid an try to grab the fifth and final playoff spot within the AHL’s North Division, Rochester is leaning on the third-youngest participant within the league to get them there. Helenius has achieved his half, coming into Wednesday on a career-best eight-game level streak, recording 4 objectives and 10 assists since Mar. 22.
“I nonetheless suppose he can get to a different stage in his sport,” mentioned Leone.
“I really feel assured,” mentioned Helenius. “I really feel like I’m enjoying my sport. It’s been enjoyable.”
However it wasn’t all the time enjoyable for Helenius, or the Amerks for that matter. This season has seen its justifiable share of ups and downs, with the valley reaching its lowest level throughout a nine-game winless skid from February into March. That drought practically value Rochester its playoff positioning. Within the midst of their struggles, main scorer Isak Rosén was traded. What appeared as adversity became alternative for Helenius to take one more step in his improvement.
“I believe shedding ‘Rosey’ (Rosén) made me take one other step. He was our main scorer. It was a giant gap in our lineup, however we needed to fill it.”
And Helenius has achieved simply that. His monstrous play has seen him instead of Rosén on the power-play, providing a one-time possibility or open ice to go throughout for Anton Wahlberg to hit a shot from the suitable facet. Helenius has improved his five-on-five play drastically, and he’s an avid shooter whatever the state of affairs, rating third on the Amerks with 137 photographs on aim.
The person accolades are a byproduct of success as a bunch, says Helenius.
“I believe it’s the workforce chemistry. It’s been good to have some consistency. I’ve been enjoying with ‘Wahlly’ (Wahlberg) virtually the entire 12 months. Matteo (Costantini) is an effective participant who works onerous and does the soiled work. We maintain getting possibilities and we rating.”
The extra you rating, the extra you win. After a month-long stoop, the Amerks appear to be heating up on the proper time. By the top of this week, they might clinch a playoff berth for a fifth straight 12 months. They’d accomplish that with much less veterans than earlier than, much less prospects than earlier than, and fewer our bodies than earlier than because the workforce continues to be plagued with accidents.
This group’s prime line consists of a participant who was projected to be within the ECHL this season and two second-year gamers that go up towards the opposition’s prime traces each night time.
The Amerks will go so far as their expertise can take them this 12 months. With Helenius main the cost, the sky is the restrict.
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