Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Samuel Helenius!
Samuel Helenius
Birthdate: November 26, 2002
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Height: 6’6
Weight: 216 lbs
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Draft: 2nd round, 59th overall, 2021 NHL Entry Draft
2024-25 season
Samuel Helenius spent time with both the Kings and Reign. Let us rewind to training camp on how he got there. The Kings’ training camp scrimmages were more physical than they were in recent memory, and Helenius’ physicality was particularly noticeable. Despite the praise, Helenius started the season with the Reign and had split stints with them and the Kings before being a permanent addition to the Kings’ lineup in early March.
Samuel Helenius and Jeff Malott drop the gloves during the scrimmage.
The team loved it. pic.twitter.com/lIK8oqAluO
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) September 21, 2024
Samuel Helenius locks in the win with 34 seconds left🔒️@OntarioReign | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/fx7JnzPevm
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 14, 2024
Samuel Helenius (1) scores his first career NHL goal.
Assists:
Tanner Jeannot (4)
Jordan Spence (13)#GoKingsGo #TimeToHunt #LAKvsFLA pic.twitter.com/RMca1fpurb— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) January 23, 2025
Samuel Helenius and Nicolas Hague drop the mitts.#GoKingsGo #VegasBorn #VGKvsLAK pic.twitter.com/UvCJrVaTNp
— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) March 10, 2025
Helenius, 22, had six points (2 G, 4 A) in 20 games with the Reign. In 50 games with the Kings, he tallied seven points (4 G, 3 A), tallying his first career NHL point on November 9th and first goal on January 22nd, and won 46.8% of his faceoffs. The Finnish forward would suit up for all six games, tallying one assist in limited ice time.
2025-26 outlook
Helenius is entering the final year of his entry-level contract. I anticipate him fighting for the fourth-line center position with Alex Turcotte. There is one little nugget to Helenius’ situation: he is no longer waiver exempt. If the Kings want to send him down to Ontario, he would have to sneak through waivers first. I’m sure the Kings don’t want to lose him on waivers, but on the other hand, there are areas where he could improve his game (e.g., faceoffs).
Featured image credit: Kirby Lee/Imagn-images