Since the June 2025 update, Helenius has turned this from a pure bottom-six projection into a clearer NHL job description. He made Los Angeles’ opening-night roster in October, signed a two-year extension in December after opening the season with seven points in 17 games, and as of April 2 has logged 45 NHL games with four goals, four assists, 41 PIM, 8:12 average ice time, and a 45.2 percent faceoff rate. The offense still comes in small bursts, but the details behind it are encouraging. Kings game reports repeatedly show the same pattern: strong wall work to keep pucks alive, straight-line routes into the slot, and forecheck pressure that creates turnovers before he gets to his finish. He helped extend ozone possession on Jan. 20, scored by cutting into the slot on Feb. 1, and on Mar. 5 forced a turnover with a check before finishing from the left circle, with D.J. Smith praising that line’s forecheck identity afterward. That still points to a low-offense fantasy profile, but he looks more like a usable NHL checking center now than a prospect waiting on a role. The value remains tied to PIM, physical disruption, and lineup security more than scoring, and even with his current day-to-day undisclosed injury, this season has been a step toward sticking power.

Since coming to North America, Helenius has filled a niche as a bottom-six shift disturber, right from the word go. While that means his production has been limited and probably always will be, his peripherals have been excellent. He’s a high-volume hitter and has upside in PIM. While he has been inconsistent at the faceoff circle, he is improving and has potential there. As a 6-6 giant, his upside is still five or six years away, so there may be some untapped offense that we haven’t seen yet, but for now, consider him a potential 35-point, 250 Hits, 70+ PIM player. He spent much of the season with the Kings, pretty much tied at the hip with another shift disturber in Tanner Jeannot. –

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 an intense 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.

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

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 en route to a bronze medal finish.