Buffalo Sabres · Center · Shoots R

Konsta Helenius

Age 20 · 5'11" · 194 lb · Born in Ylojarvi, FIN

Cap 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

Goals

50.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

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

+0.64

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

0 W · 1 L

Plus/minus

Blocks 0 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	+/-	GS
Oct 1 @ CBJ · L 6-3	1	2	2	0	15:09	2:10	0:00	0-1	33	+2	+0.64
May 18 vs MTL · OTL 3-2	0	3	3	1	16:37	0:00	0:00	1-10	100	-1	-0.44
May 16 @ MTL · W 8-3	1	2	0	2	12:36	0:00	0:00	3-3	0	+1	+0.78
May 14 vs MTL · L 6-3	1	2	1	0	11:47	0:42	0:00	2-8	40	+1	+0.55
May 12 @ MTL · W 3-2	0	3	1	1	12:53	0:00	0:00	4-2	33	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

xGF%59.3%

98th percentile

Relative xGF%+16.8

100th percentile

HDCF%42.9%

18th percentile

CF%58.4%

97th percentile

Relative CF%+15.4

100th percentile

FF%58.0%

97th percentile

GF%55.6%

77th percentile

CF/6063.3

84th percentile

CA/6045.0

100th percentile

ixG/600.59

11th percentile

Goals above expected-0.0

58th percentile

IPP80.0%

91st percentile

PDO100.0

54th percentile

OZS%60.9%

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.

PlaymakerShutdown playerElite defense

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.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2026-27	BUF	1	1	0	1	+2	2	15:09	—	+0.64
2025-26	BUF	9	1	3	4	+1	15	11:55	—	+0.17

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.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

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.

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%