Helleson, 20 (3/26/01), represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, recording one assist in three tournament contests. Acquired with a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from Colorado for Josh Manson, Helleson recorded 4-21=25 points and 30 penalty minutes (PIM) in 32 games as a junior in 2021-22 with Boston College (Hockey East). He led Golden Eagles defensemen in points and ranked second among team leaders in assists.
The 6-3, 204-pound defenseman collected 9-37=46 points with a +26 rating in 82 career NCAA games with Boston College from 2019-22, leading team blueliners in scoring each of the last two seasons. He was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team, a Hockey East First Team All-Star and the Best Defensive Defenseman in 2020-21 after scoring 4-11=15 points with a +23 rating in 22 games. He ranked third among all NCAA skaters in plus/minus.
Originally selected by Colorado in the second round (47th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Helleson recorded 10-53=63 points with the U.S. National Team Development Program's U-17 and U-18 teams from 2017-19. A native of Farmington, Minn., Helleson helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship, scoring 2-2=4 points with a +9 rating in seven tournament games to lead all defensemen in goals. He also helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and bronze at the 2019 U-18 World Championship.
