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Most draft boards thought Konstad Helenis was a strong candidate when the Devils selected him with the 10th pick. Who is he? Would he be a good pick for the Devils? Let’s take a deeper look.
Who is Konstadt Helenius?
Konsta Helenius was born on May 11, 2006 in Vlojarvi, Finland. Elite Prospects The 5-foot-11, 190-pound center/winger plays for Jukurit in the top division of Spanish Football. Despite his small stature, Helenius is very muscular, almost reminding me of Fabian Zetterlund, and he is not shy about getting physical.
Helenius has been a standout player ever since his stat sheet appeared. Starting with the 2020-21 season, Helenius played for the Tapala U16 team, scoring a total of 57 points in 22 games while scoring almost a goal per game (20). He continued to excel in the U18 competition the following season, scoring another 45 points in 33 games.
Helenis spent the 2022-23 season bouncing back and forth between Tappara’s U20 team and a loan spell with Jukurit in the Liiga, an impressive achievement for a then 16-year-old. Helenis collected a respectable 11 points in 33 top-flight games in the D-2 season, and 36 points in 51 games while on loan at Jukurit last season. Helenis is expected to get a full-time position at Tappara next season.
How does Konsta Helenius rank?
NHL Central Scouting Survey (EU skaters) ranked #1
All in all, there’s a good chance Helenis will still be available when the Devils draft a player with the 10th pick.
What others are saying about Konsta Helenius
Dayton Raimer Hockey Writer There is a wonderful article about Helenius that I recommend everyone read. Here are some selected quotes:
The reason Helenis scores so many points regardless of position is his BroadCast Unitedligence, using his excellent skating skills to create space, using bursts of speed and quick changes of direction to open lanes for easy passes to teammates.
Defensively, he is just as smart. Despite his 5-foot-11 frame, Helenius displays impressive strength and is not afraid to get physical with larger opponents. He uses his strong positioning to intercept errant passes and is able to put pressure on opponents to force them into mistakes and give up the puck.
All good, and it’s nice to see that Helenius’ size doesn’t prevent him from making physical contact. Here are some comments from others:
Mike Morreale NHL Website:
Skilled and quick, he plays at a high level. The right-handed shooter has five power-play goals for Jukurit in Liiga, Finland’s top men’s professional league, with a win rate of 50.2% and an average playing time of 16 minutes and 57 seconds.
Chris Peters Flo Hockey:
He is comfortable in all three zones, has above-average skating skills and is difficult to tackle. Puck awareness is a high-end trait, which is why some believe Helenius could make the NHL soon.
Scott Wheeler Sports$:
For a while, there were doubts as to whether he would be a center or winger at the NHL level, but he is solid in the faceoff circle, his defensive play is spot-on (a real strength of his), and he has an impressive understanding of how to press, track, and steal the puck with his body and stick
You get the idea. Helenis is a smart, two-way center who excels on both ends of the floor: a complete player.
A short video
Various viewpoints
Konsta Helenis fits the profile of a player I tend to lean towards, which is a smart, two-way skater who is physical and good on both ends of the ice. Helenis’s size may prevent him from being an NHL center, but the Devils could use him on the wing if needed, similar to Dawson Mercer. Overall, I would be very happy if Helenis ends up being selected by the Devils, depending on who else is on the roster.
Your opinion
Now it’s time to tell us what you think. Leave your comments below.
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