Seth Helgeson Explained

Seth Helgeson
Birth Date:8 October 1990
Birth Place:Faribault, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:215
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
League:AHL
Team:Free agent
Former Teams:New Jersey Devils
Draft:114th overall
Draft Year:2009
Draft Team:New Jersey Devils
Career Start:2013

Seth Helgeson (born October 8, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL). Helgeson was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 4th round (114th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Amateur

After completing two seasons at Faribault High, Helgeson attended the 2007 Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL training camp.[1] He subsequently joined the team for their 2007–08 season. On November 19, 2008, Helgeson committed to play NCAA Division I hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team.[2] While playing with the Sioux City Musketeers, Helgeson was selected for the 2009 USHL All-Star Game.[3]

In his freshman season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Helgeson played in 31 games and recorded one goal. His only goal came during the 2010 WCHA playoffs against North Dakota and was the game winning goal to tie the teams in the series.[4] North Dakota ended up winning the series 2–1. He was awarded the Donald M. Clark Community Service award by the Gophers at the conclusion of the season.[5]

In his sophomore season, Helgeson played in 36 games and recorded a new career high seven points. He was again awarded the Donald M. Clark Community Service award at the conclusion of the season.[5]

In his junior year, Helgeson recorded an uptake in scoring and set new career highs in goals, assists, and points. He was also named to the All-WCHA Academic Team.[5]

During the 2012–13 season, Helgeson was the sole senior on the team and served as an alternate captain.[6] At the end of the season, he had played in 121 consecutive games for the Gophers and led the team in penalty minutes. He was also named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the second time.[5]

Professional

On April 5, 2013, the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) signed Helgeson to an amateur tryout agreement,[7] allowing the defenseman to suit up with the AHL team for their final four games of the 2012–13 season.

On November 27, 2013, the New Jersey Devils of the NHL recalled Helgeson from the Albany Devils, under emergency conditions,[8] however it turned out he was not needed and was returned to Albany after the morning skate.[9]

After a strong training camp with the Devils for the 2014–15 season, Helgeson was recalled by New Jersey from Albany on November 11, 2014 to replace the injured Bryce Salvador, and immediately made his NHL debut, registering an assist in a 3–1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.[10]

On July 1, 2017, having left the Devils as a free agent, Helgeson signed with cross-town rivals the New York Islanders on a one-year, two-way contract.[11] On October 7, he was named an alternate captain for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders AHL affiliate.[12]

On July 2, 2018, Helgeson stayed with the Islanders organization and signed a two-year, two-way contract.[13]

After three seasons with the Sound Tigers, Helgeson as a free agent from the Islanders, opted to continue his tenure within the organization by signing a one-year AHL contract with the Sound Tigers on October 29, 2020.[14]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07Faribault HighMNHS271917360
2007–08Sioux City Musketeers583811414 0 1 1 2
2008–09Sioux City MusketeersUSHL584121664
2009–10University of MinnesotaWCHA3110124
2010–11University of MinnesotaWCHA3616766
2011–12University of MinnesotaWCHA43591470
2012–13University of MinnesotaWCHA4005562
2012–13Albany DevilsAHL40002
2013–14Albany DevilsAHL7519101004 0 0 0 2
2014–15Albany DevilsAHL492101258
2014–15New Jersey DevilsNHL2202218
2015–16Albany DevilsAHL422575211 0 4 4 14
2015–16New Jersey DevilsNHL1901117
2016–17Albany DevilsAHL48279504 0 1 1 2
2016–17New Jersey DevilsNHL910115
2017–18Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL7611112137
2018–19Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL74113141325 0 1 1 4
2019–20Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL63191095
2020–21Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL2312336
2021–22Bridgeport IslandersAHL693479460 0 0 4
2022–23Bridgeport IslandersAHL72189109
2023–24Bridgeport IslandersAHL7014582
NHL totals5013450

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
USHL
USHL All-Star Game2009
College
NCAA (WCHA) All-Academic Team2012, 2013
Donald M. Clark Community Service Award2010, 2011

Notes and References

  1. News: Allspach . Steve . Musketeer's tryout camp draws 88 players . January 18, 2019 . Sioux City Journal . June 7, 2007.
  2. Web site: Men's Hockey Signs Six in Recruiting Class . gophersports.com . January 18, 2019 . November 19, 2008.
  3. Web site: Musketeers Alum Makes NHL Debut . ushl.com . January 18, 2019 . November 14, 2011.
  4. Web site: Helgeson's First Goal Helps Gophers Even Series . gophersports.com . January 18, 2019 . March 14, 2010.
  5. Web site: SETH HELGESON . gophersports.com . August 29, 2018.
  6. News: Blount . Rachel . Gophers defenseman Helgeson is in a class by himself . January 18, 2019 . Star Tribune . March 1, 2013.
  7. Web site: Devils ink Helgeson . . 2013-04-05 . 2013-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130409004815/http://www.thealbanydevils.com/devils-ink-helgeson . April 9, 2013 . mdy-all .
  8. News: Devils: Seth Helgeson up on emergency recall; Stephen Gionta on IR . . 2013-11-27 . 2013-11-27.
  9. News: Devils rookie defenseman Seth Helgeson will have to wait for NHL debut . . 2013-11-27 . 2013-11-27.
  10. Web site: Devils end skid, beat Wild without Parise . . 2014-11-11 . 2014-11-11.
  11. Web site: Islanders sign Helgeson . . 2017-07-01 . 2017-07-01.
  12. Web site: Sound Tigers Name Captains For 2017-18 Season . soundtigers.com . August 29, 2018 . October 7, 2017.
  13. Web site: Islanders sign Seth Helgeson to 2-year contract . . August 29, 2018 . July 2, 2018.
  14. Web site: Helgeson, Kubiak, Brown and Pastujov agree to terms . . October 29, 2020 . October 29, 2020.