Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Helm update
By Victoria Matiash
UPDATE: According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said forward Darren Helm won't play hockey again this season.
***
UPDATE: According to MLive.com, Darren Helm hopes to start skating later this week. Bothered by a nagging back injury, Helm hasn't set foot on the ice since Jan. 26.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Filppula is expected to miss at least another week with an injured shoulder, and Todd Bertuzzi is still considered out indefinitely. Joakim Andersson, Tomas Tatar, and Cory Emmerton are among those plugging the resulting holes up front.
***
UPDATE: Fortunately for Darren Helm and the Detroit Red Wings, the root of the centerman's back issue appears to be relatively minor.
"After doing all the tests, (the doctor is) very confident there's nothing significant," Wings GM Ken Holland said Thursday (MLive.com). "It's either a small ligament strain or a ligament tear, likely a strain ... The doctor is optimistic he's found the problem."
Helm will be re-assessed next week. If all goes well, he could return to practice shortly.
***
Don't expect to see Darren Helm back in the lineup for the Detroit Red Wings anytime soon. As discussed by MLive.com, the centerman's back isn't feeling any better and there's no timetable for his return.
"I think we got a bone scan coming up pretty soon," Helm said Monday. "I think we're going to do it today or tomorrow morning, just to see if there's anything structural."
After sitting out training camp, Helm played just the one game for the Red Wings (Jan. 25) before experiencing a setback.
Forward Patrick Eaves should continue to fill in for Helm, as a bottom-six forward in Detroit's lineup. (Note: Tomas Tatar will make his season debut in lieu of Eaves on Tuesday)
