Samuel Helenius

June 2022 – The Kings second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft spent the year developing with JYP of Liiga and put up nine points across 48 games. As is evident, offence is not the primary attraction for Helenius. He has a hulking 6-6 frame that allows him to punish opponents while using his wingspan to make it difficult for the opposition to transition or create offence when he is on the attack. He has never had a strong stretch of offence despite boasting a heavy shot and long reach around the net. He has a safe projection to become a checking line centre at the NHL level. Fantasy owners should stay away from the centre unless he can show an ability to produce offence consistently. Sean Crocker

July 2021 – Helenius was selected in the second round, 59th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

April 2021 – Helenius has had a solid rookie season with JYP of Liiga, scoring seven goals and seven assists in 54 games while playing just under 15 minutes per game. He has played extensively on the penalty kill with his club team and also featured in that role for Finland at the World Juniors where he tallied two goals and two assists on the way to a bronze medal finish.

Helenius isn’t going to win any scoring titles but he has an advanced understanding of the defensive side of the puck for a player his age and the size that NHL teams covet. He keeps his head on a swivel in defensive zone coverage, taking note of potential passing lanes and eliminating them with his exceptional reach. Helenius tracks well in defensive transition and supports the play low in his own zone, routinely pulling pucks from scrums before moving them to safety but can struggle with the accuracy of his passes on occasion. He will rarely get caught on the wrong side of the puck, maintaining a responsible defensive posture in all three zones. For all of his defensive exploits, Helenius doesn’t offer much in the way of offense. He isn’t a high-end passer or puck handler and struggles to receive passes or control the puck under pressure. He doesn’t get to dangerous areas in the offensive zone with any consistency and struggles to create space for his teammates despite his large frame. Helenius towers over his peers at 6-6 but he is still growing into his body and can appear awkward and unbalanced at times. He has decent mobility for his size but his stride has a tendency to break down, causing his ankles and hips to get stiff, limiting his agility. He throws his body around on the forecheck, finishing his checks and pressuring opposing players into quick decisions but he can be eluded by more agile puck carriers. Helenius has a long way to go in order to become even a mild offensive threat at the next level but his size and defensive prowess could make him an effective shutdown center in the NHL. Nick Richard