PuckSleuth
94Cap hit
$954K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
needs 40 recent games
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
50.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
15:09
PP 2:10 · PK 0:00
xGF%
19.0
5v5, -40.3 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.67
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
0 W · 1 L
Plus/minus
+2
Blocks 0 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ CBJ · L 6-3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15:09 | 2:10 | 0:00 | 0-1 | 33 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +0.67 |
| May 18 vs MTL · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 16:37 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 1-10 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.44 |
| May 16 @ MTL · W 8-3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12:36 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 3-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.78 |
| May 14 vs MTL · L 6-3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11:47 | 0:42 | 0:00 | 2-8 | 40 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.55 |
| May 12 @ MTL · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12:53 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 4-2 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.59 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 105 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
98th percentile
100th percentile
18th percentile
97th percentile
100th percentile
97th percentile
77th percentile
84th percentile
100th percentile
11th percentile
58th percentile
91st percentile
54th percentile
75th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive playmaking center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Helenius is an elite playmaker and defensive anchor who controls the game's flow with his elite two-way play. His biggest limitation is puck handling and foot speed, which can leave him exposed in transition.
- Shooting volume
- 89
- Playmaking
- 98
- Zone entries(est.)
- 88
- Forechecking
- 73
- Physicality
- 57
- Defensive impact
- 100
- Puck management
- 15
- Speed
- 15
Where he shoots from
Slot 18% · Mid-range 45% · Perimeter 36%(22 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional playmaking at 98th percentile sets up prime scoring chances
- Perfect defensive impact (100th percentile) shuts down opponents consistently
- Elite rush chance creation (88th percentile) drives offensive entries
Watch-outs
- Puck management at 15th percentile leads to turnovers and giveaways
- Low skating speed (15th percentile) limits ability to escape pressure
Similar style: Kevin Hayes, Stephen Halliday (OTT)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 9 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.5 goals, or +0.17 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.2
- Even strength defense
- +0.1
- Playmaking
- +0.9
- Penalties
- +0.4
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6.7 | 11:55 | 41.7 | +0.17 |
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20.0 | 14:54 | — | +0.67 |
| Career | 2 seasons | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 10.0 | 12:28 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ CBJ, Oct 1
Line 3 with Ryan McLeod and Peyton Krebs (10:05 together at 5-on-5) · PP2
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Sabres Cannonballed by Columbus, Fall 6-3
diebytheblade.com · Oct 2
- Goal | Helenius at CBJ
nhl.com · Oct 2
- Confidence, special ability to meet big moments make Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius unique talent
buffalohockeybeat.com · Oct 1
- Sabres' Konsta Helenius receives boost in quest to earn NHL roster spot
sabrenoise.com · Sep 18
- Konsta Helenius tops new ranking of Buffalo Sabres' best prospects
sabrenoise.com · Sep 14
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.05 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 21.4 mph
- 17th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 5
- Hardest shot
- 83.3 mph
- 40th pct
- Distance
- 17.4 mi
- OZ time
- 41.5%
- 42nd pct
- DZ time
- 39.8%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 20, forwards typically produce 92% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 21, when the typical level is 96%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | BUF | $954K | 0.9% |
| 2027-28 | BUF | $954K | 0.8% |
RFA after 2027-28. $1.907M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).