Born: 2002-11-26
Team: JYP
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 6-6 / 183
REPORT: 2021 WORLD JUNIORS
Helenius has been an impact player on the Finnish team through their first four games. He is a trusted penalty killer and he does his job very well. He reads the game well, plays with his head on a swivel and shows awareness of his surroundings. He clogs passing lanes and can cover a lot of ice. He scored two goals against Slovakia, the second one was a laser of a shot after he made a nice cut inside. He moves well and is quick to put pressure on defensemen – finishes his checks and has no quit in his game. He has averaged 3.5 hits per game. I see a very bright future for the versatile center, whose NHL draft stock has been rising throughout the season. I think he has the potential to develop an NHL player who can help a team in all facets of the game.
REPORT: JYP @ TPS (LIIGA), OCTOBER 24, 2020
Helenius centered the third line for JYP, playing alongside Mikko Salmio and Samuel Valkeejärvi. The late 2002 opened the scoring early in the first period as he was able to sneak behind a defender and move to the net in a timely manner for a tap in. Helenius understood his defensive responsibilities, he backchecked well and applied stick pressure with his long reach. He’s strong with his hands and can strip or separate opponents away from the puck. He made a nice play in the third period as he chipped the puck off the boards to himself and gave a decent backhand pass which didn’t quite hit the target. He can skate with the puck out of trouble. He has long legs and used powerful strides to reach good top gear. On the downside, he struggled at the face-off dot. All things considered, I cannot emphasize enough how impressive Helenius’ progress has been. If he maintains this level of play, he should stay in the Liiga for the entire season. I also think he could be a perfect fit on the third or fourth line of the Finnish World Juniors team.
REPORT: U20 NATIONAL TEAM CAMP, JULY 22, 2020
Helenius centered the third line for Team White and looked comfortable in that role. He did not look out of place at all as a late 2002. He was physical, read the game well and defended the middle of the ice efficiently. He can use his size to protect the puck and his long reach is another asset. He made a nice play in the offensive zone as he stickhandled through the middle and made a quick feed to the right for a quality chance. He has smoothed out his stride and his skating looked good in terms of power and fluidity.
2O19-20 SEASON NOTES (MARCH 26, 2020)
Helenius had a strong season for Jokerit U20 and made his debut with the U18 national team. He is a towering center that plays a good two-way game. Efficient defensively, clogs passing lanes and gets his stick on the puck. He has improved his skating significantly, he has a powerful stride and good glide. The mechanics were always there, but he has added quickness and smoothed out his stride since the past season. Samuel is not the the flashiest player offensively, but he reads plays well and makes quick decisions with the puck. The skill level is pretty high. He is tough to play against, finishes his checks with authority and is tenacious on the forecheck. There is no doubt in my mind that Helenius has the potential to play in the NHL. The progress has been impressive, but his best hockey lies ahead.
REPORT: BLUES @ JOKERIT U20, AUGUST 7, 2019
Helenius centered Jokerit U20 fourth line, playing alongside Artemi Aleksandrov and Niclas Tenhovuori. He also got ice-time on the second power play unit and scored on a rebound in the third period. He also had another good scoring chance but just missed on the far side from the low slot. He made smart passes with the puck and he read the game well without the puck. One of his best plays was a good read at the blueline to keep the pressure in the offensive zone. Helenius has pretty good mobility and the mechanics to improve his skating which is at a decent level at this point in time. He was physically strong and involved in puck battles. The Jokerit U18 standout looks ready to take another step in the U20 league this season.
REPORT: JOKERIT @ KARHU-KISSAT U18, DECEMBER 1, 2018
Helenius was strong defensively throughout the game. In his first shift, he made a good stick check to prevent a zone entry. He also made a solid block by getting into the shooting lane. Another strong play in the first period was a primary assist where he made himself available for a pass to create a 2-on-1. Helenius supported his teammates well and was aware of his defensive responsibilities. He took some quick wristers on net and displayed good vision from time to time. Moreover, the 6’3 center won face-offs at a high rate. His skating looked pretty good, especially for a player of his size.