Helenius Shows Promise In First Season With Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres were fortunate at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after trading down three slots with the San Jose Sharks the day before the draft to garner an extra second-round pick. At #11, the Sharks selected London defenseman Sam Dickinson, who had a 91-point season with the OHL Knights, and Minnesota chose blueliner Zeev Buium, who won gold with Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Both are excellent prospects, but are also left-handed defensemen, which the Sabres have in ample quantity. At #14, the Sabres selected Finnish center Konsta Helenius, who many draft analysts labeled as the most pro-ready forward next to top pick Macklin Celebrini after playing last season in the Finnish SM-Liiga, and for Finland at the Under-18's, World Junior Championships and World Championships.
The 19-year-old chose to come and play in the American Hockey League and finished with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 65 games with Rochester, but stepped up his level of performance in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in eight playoff games. Although it would be unwise to rush Helenius to the NHL, it is encouraging that he was able to adjust to the North American game so quickly.
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Here is an update on other players selected in 2024:
Adam Kleber – D – 42nd overall
The Minnesota native in his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 33 games and was part of Team USA's gold medal-winning squad at the WJC in Ottawa.
A Konsta Helenius shorty to finish off the night😮💨@AmerksHockey | #LAVvsROC | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/vzQZCIwtfl
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 24, 2025
Brodie Ziemer – RW – 71st overall
A product of the US National Development Program, Ziemer made his mark at the World Juniors in Ottawa, scoring seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in seven games for the victorious US squad. As a freshman at the University of Minnesota impressed with 12 goals in 38 games, but the 19-year-old winger's NCAA season ended abruptly, as the Golden Gophers lost 5-4 in overtime to UMass at the NCAA regional in Fargo, ND.
Luke Osburn – D – 108th overall
The 6'1', 183 lb. blueliner is committed to play for the University of Wisconsin next season and is playing his second season for the Youngstown Phantoms. In 55 games, the 18-year-old blueliner had 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) and was named the USHL's Defenseman of the Year.
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