The Kings announced that they’ve signed center Samuel Helenius to a two-year contract extension. The deal is worth $1.75MM for a cap hit of $875K, carrying him through the 2027-28 season. That will be paid out via a $850K base salary in the first year and a $900K base salary in the second, per PuckPedia. He was due to become a restricted free agent next summer. His agent, Gold Star Hockey’s Dan Milstein, was the first to report the signing.
Helenius, 23, was a second-round pick by the Kings in 2021. The son of former Stars enforcer Sami Helenius checks in at 6’6″ and 201 lbs and was drafted with the hopes of panning out as a long-term bottom-six piece as a checking center. So far, he’s close to delivering on that ceiling. After playing out the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons with AHL Ontario, Helenius earned his first NHL recall in November last season and spent a good chunk of the season in the Kings’ lineup as their fourth-line center. In 50 appearances, he notched four goals and three assists for seven points with a +1 rating. His deployment was limited to even strength only, keeping his ice time down at 8:39 per game. He won 46.8% of his faceoffs and recorded 150 hits, second on the team.
His game was as conducive to low-event hockey as advertised. No L.A. skater was on the ice for fewer goals against per 60 minutes at even strength than Helenius at 1.4. Of course, his 1.5 on-ice goals for per 60 was also the second-lowest on the team among skaters with at least 25 games played. No Kings forward averaged fewer shot attempts per game than Helenius’ 1.28, either.
This season, Helenius cracked the opening night roster but has barely played. He’s been surpassed on the depth chart by winger Jeff Malott and now serves as the 14th forward. Considering the Kings’ forward group has avoided injury pile-ups this season, that’s meant only three showings for Helenius in 25 games. He recently went over a month between appearances and skated just 3:25 of ice time in his last outing against the Senators on Nov. 24. In those three games, Helenius has a -1 rating while going 3-for-13 on faceoffs with 10 hits.
With Helenius carrying the profile of a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect, the lack of playing time isn’t doing much harm for his development. He’s already close to his peak anyway as an everyday fourth-line piece with fringe third-line upside. While he may not be a regular in the Kings’ lineup this season, the organization obviously sees his role increasing enough over the next two seasons to warrant an extension. The new deal means he’ll be owed a one-way qualifying offer of $945,000 in the 2028 offseason if the Kings want to retain his signing rights.