Helenius, Riku

Finnish sports website Keskisuomalainen is reporting that former Lightning first round pick Riku Helenius is attracting attention from the Lightning as well as multiple KHL clubs, including Amur Khabarovsk, all of which are vying for his services next season. News about Helenius, who won the SM-liiga championship and was one of Finland's best goaltenders last year, broke in the magazine Veikkaaja, which has been cited by several other websites claiming Helenius' asking price was a 1-way deal. Helenius, who stands at 6'3" and 198 lbs, had a 1.64 GAA and .936 save percentage in the regular season for JYP, which he followed with a 1.73 GAA and .947 save percentage in the playoffs.

This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions.

We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospect’s achievement on the ice.

This week’s BP Prospect of the Week award goes to … Riku Helenius, G, JYP (SM-liiga, Finland).

The 2011-2012 season ended for Helenius this week – in the best way possible. The Lightning’s first round pick (15th overall) in 2006 completed arguably the greatest comeback season in Bolt Prospects history when he not only led the SM-liiga in nearly every major goaltending category in the regular season, but guided JYP to the league championship in the playoffs.

SM-liiga Finals (Finland):
(2)Pelicans Lahti 1 @ (4)JYP 2 (OT)
JYP Wins the Series 4-1
JYP Wins the SM-liiga Championship
Riku Helenius, JYP, Win, 45/46, 0.90 GAA, .978 sv%
Playoff totals: 13 GP, 11-2-0, 0 SO, 1.73 GAA, .947 sv%
Regular season totals: 33 GP, 21-9-1, 7 SO, 1.64 GAA, .936 sv%

Completing arguably the greatest season of redemption in Bolt Prospects history, Lightning prospect Riku Helenius turned away 45 shots to help lead JYP to a 2-1 overtime Game Five win. The victory clinched the series and the SM-liiga championship for JYP. Former Lightning forward Eric Perrin (shown celebrating like a wild man) scored the overtime winner at 6:58 of overtime and assisted on JYP's other goal in the victory.

Helenius, the former Lightning first rounder, goes from being a tandem starter on a Sodertalje club in the Swedish Elitserien that had to fight off relegation last year to backstopping the best club in the Finnish Elitserien.

MHL Championship (Russia Jr.):
Nikita Gusev had 1 goal and 1 assist as CSKA Jr. cut Omsk Jr.'s series lead in half in their 3-1 Game Three win over Omsk Jr. Nikita Kucherov did not appear in the match. Game Four is Tuesday.

SM-liiga Finals (Finland):
(4)JYP 5 @ (2)Pelicans Lahti 4 (OT)
JYP Leads the Series 3-1
Riku Helenius, JYP, Win, 49/53, 3.28 GAA, .925 sv%
Playoff totals: 12 GP, 10-2-0, 0 SO, 1.80 GAA, .944 sv%
Regular season totals: 33 GP, 21-9-1, 7 SO, 1.64 GAA, .936 sv%

One win away. Former Lightning forward Eric Perrin had the primary assist on Harri Pesonen's goal at 13:26 of overtime to lift JYP to a 5-4 Game Four win over Pelicans Lahti. Ex-Lightning draft pick Radek Smolenak, who had been scoreless in the series' previous 4 games, did everything he could to deliver the series tying win for Lahti. He had 2 goals and 1 assist, including the game tying goal with 27 seconds left in the Third Period to force overtime. But, in the end, JYP took Lahti's best punch and are now one victory away from being able to call themselves champions.

SM-liiga Finals (Finland):
(2)Pelicans Lahti 1 @ (4)JYP 4
JYP Leads the Series 2-1
Riku Helenius, JYP, Win, 33/34, 1.00 GAA, .971 sv%
Playoff totals: 11 GP, 9-2-0, 0 SO, 1.65 GAA, .946 sv%
Regular season totals: 33 GP, 21-9-1, 7 SO, 1.64 GAA, .936 sv%

Big game Riku! Riku Helenius stopped 33 shots and was named first star for JYP's 4-1 Game Three win over Lahti. Ex-Lightning forward Eric Perrin had a pair of helpers in support of Helenius for JYP. Another former Lightning forward, Radek Smolenak, has yet to hit the scoresheet in the series for Pelicans. Game Four is Saturday.

MHL Finals (Russia Jr.):
Omsk Jr. whipped CSKA Jr. 5-2 in Game One of their Finals series. Nikita Kucherov did not appear for CSKA Jr.