Team: Mikkelin Jukurit
Date of Birth: May 11th, 2006
Height: 5’11”/180 cm
Weight: 176 Ibs/ 80 kg
Position: C/RW
Handedness: Right
Introduction:
When taking a look at this crop for this year’s NHL draft, Konsta Helenius is the front-runner as of now to be the first Finnish player selected off the board. Konsta Helenius is a player who plays the game with intelligence and efficiency. Konsta could be consider a Jack of a trades. Someone who’s good in multiple areas and master of none.
Although this toolbox isn’t elite, The Finnish forward’s hockey IQ makes up for it as he makes an impact from both ends of the ice. Here’s why Konsta Helenius is making a case to be the go to option in the top 10 range of this year’s draft class.
Skating:
Skating is one of the most crucial part of a player’s game, often being the deciding factor on if a prospect can handle playing at a pro’s speed. When I look at a player’s game tape, my main focus is whether or not skating feels natural to them, and with Konsta’s… yeah it does. His skating does not wow you but it gets the job done, as he’s able to get from point a to point b as efficiently as possible. He uses his edges really well, and his crossovers are solid enough where he’s able to move laterally, without losing much speed at all. However, The biggest reason why his skating excels is that, he works hard. He’s constantly pushing himself, and giving 110% in his stride, which sometimes catches opposing defenders off guard.
Offensive ability
In terms of Helenius’s offensive tool set, he’s an incredibly smart forward who gets himself in high danger areas of the offensive zone in order to create scoring opportunities. His hockey iq allows him to anticipate where the puck is going a head of time. Konsta is no Joakim kemell, but he knows how to rifle the puck when given the space and time to do so. His might not be the hardest, but he knows how to pick corners, especially in stride.
When it comes to Helenius hockey IQ, his play making ability is stellar. He’s able to find open teammates that are in high danger spots, and is able to get it to them fast and on the tape. This makes him a dangerous threat on the powerplay. His playmaking ability also enable him to be an effective transition player as he uses his teammates well to give and go with the puck.
Helenius possess soft silky hands, and he’s not a afraid to use it. He actively attacks the middle of the ice, trying to split apart defenders. His hands create deception to mask his passing ability.
Defensive ability
Finland has a habit of turning out players who excel at a two way game, and Konsta is no exception. He has shown great intelligence in the defensive zone, as he able to pick off passes from opposing forwards, and stay by the players who are the most dangerous on the ice. Helenius also maintains an active stick at all times when pressing against his opponents , which greatly increases the chances of defenders or forwards making a mistake. Like I said before, His work ethic really brings together his defensive game as he constantly puts in effort every single shift.
Closing statements
When I first came to watch the Finnish forward, I thought he was a decent player, but as I looked further into his game, I started to see how smart Konsta truly is. Konsta Helenius is a coach’s dream player, and with the right team, i think he could max out as a top 6 centre in an nhl lineup, scoring 70+ points.
Konsta Helenius is currently ranked 5th by Recruit Scouting, 4th by McKeen’s, 6th by Dobber, and 8th by Eilte Prospects.