Archive for the 'Darren Helm' Category

4/5 Notes

Published
by
Matt Saler
on April 5, 2008
in Brian Rafalski, Darren Helm, Injuries, Justin Abdelkader, Kris Draper, Lines, Mikael Samuelsson and Playoffs
. 0 Comments

Update (2:12 PM): Helene St. James notes that the playoff schedule given below is not yet official. It’s just what the team is anticipating.

Also, I’ve added a sidebar section with first round info and links. For some reason, it’s not showing up on the main page, but it’s there in the post pages. I hope to get that fixed, but because it’s tied to a conflict between the new version of Wordpress and the k2 theme I use, I can’t do much aside from wait for a fix to be posted. - Matt

Update (2:06 PM): For those wondering why the Wings signed Abdelkader when they could have just called up a Griffin or two, here’s my thinking (posted as a comment over at Abel to Yzerman in response to IwoCPO calling it a panic signing):

I think it’s a matter of timing. Abdelkader decided just this past week that he was going to forgo his senior year at MSU. When he told the Wings, they had two routes they could take: 1) sign him by the Saturday deadline and have him available for the playoffs, or 2) let him hang out for a summer and sign him by the August deadline so that he could join the organization next season.

The benefits of Option 1 are obvious: you can bring in a highly-touted prospect who would be idle otherwise. He brings a fast, physical style as well as buckets of motivation to play for his home team. If nothing else, he can join the group of young guys the team will be calling up at the end of the Griffins’ season and give the Wings a heck of a practice squad.

So, they signed him to an amateur tryout in order to whet his appetite. He then signed the entry level contract and now has the chance to play hockey in real life this summer instead of on his Xbox.

Not a panic signing at all. Just a realization that an idle Justin Abdelkader is a waste of talent.

- Matt

Ansar Khan has an update from practice:

… Tomas Holmstrom (abdomen/groin) is definitely going to play tomorrow. He’ll skate on Henrik Zetterberg’s wing with Pavel Datsyuk.

… Kris Draper (groin) is out tomorrow, but claimed he’ll be back for Game 1. So, the 10-14 days claim from the FSN broadcast Thursday night was incorrect. Draper implied that he’d be playing through pain by telling Khan he would play tomorrow if it were the playoffs.

… Mikael Samuelsson (groin) was on the ice but not for long. No return date has been set yet.

… The team recalled Darren Helm from the Griffins, apparently to give Babcock more options.

… The practice lines:

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom
Filppula-Franzen-Cleary
Drake-Hartigan-Downey
Hudler-Helm-McCarty

… Justin Abdelkader was the odd man out in practice, but Babcock told Khan he’d dress 13 forwards prior to the game and decide who sits after warmups.

… Brian Rafalski will be rested tomorrow, which means Derek Meech will be on the blueline.

… Lastly, Khan provides the first round schedule. Not times yet, but Game 2 will be an evening game, apparently:

Game 1 — Thursday in Detroit
Game 2 — Saturday in Detroit
Game 3 — April 14 in Nashville
Game 4 — April 16 in Nashville
x-Game 5 — April 18 in Detroit
x-Game 6 — April 20 in Nashville
x-Game 7 — April 22 in Detroit

x-if necessary

3/18 Injury Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on March 18, 2008
in Chris Osgood, Darren Helm, Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Links and Tomas Holmstrom
. 1 Comment

Update (3:33 PM): George Malik has some more on the injury situation here. - Matt

Update (2:40 PM): Helene St. James has a couple further details:

Draper apparently felt good after skating today. That seems to indicate that the Helm recall is more of an extra caution than a necessity.

Holmstrom, on the other hand, is “still shying away from hard stops and starts.” So it’s no surprise that Mike Babcock is holding him out of this week’s games, despite Tomas’ hopes for return.

Also, St. James reports that Babcock will finalize the defense by the last three or four games of the regular season. She characterizes the contest for the third pairing as a three-way one between Chris Chelios, Andreas Lilja, and Brett Lebda for the two spots. However, I think it’s safe to say that Chelios is a lock, so it’s more likely to be a two-way battle for the sixth spot.

I suspect that, when it comes down to it, Lilja’s penalty killing and shot-blocking ability will earn him that final spot at Lebda’s expense.

In related note, I’m a little surprised Derek Meech is apparently out of the equation, but it seems his chance to become a regular this season has passed. - Matt

Ansar Khan reports that the Wings have recalled Darren Helm from Grand Rapids because Kris Draper (groin tear) is not ready to return Wednesday after all. Draper is a “maybe” for Thursday night, depending on how he feels after practice tomorrow.

Helm was just returned to the Griffins yesterday along with Mattias Ritola.

Khan also says Tomas Holmstrom (abdominal strain) is eager to return, but he is not likely to play until after this week. The team is being cautious, as it can afford to do at this stage in the season. They need #96 for the playoffs, not for these last intradivisional games.

Lastly, Khan provides info on the starting goaltenders for the next two games: Chris Osgood will get the nod against Columbus tomorrow night and Dominik Hasek will be the man Thursday night in Nashville.

Ritola, Helm returned to Griffins

Published
by
Matt Saler
on March 17, 2008
in Aaron Downey, Darren Helm, Darren McCarty, Injuries, Kris Draper and Mattias Ritola
. 1 Comment

Update (3:15 PM): I was wrong about Holmstrom.

Bruce MacLeod reports that Kris Draper is a “maybe” for Wednesday, while neither Tomas Holmstrom nor Darren McCarty are expected to be ready. Downey, however, is able to return.

If Draper (or Holmstrom or McCarty) is not able to make it back, the team will recall Mattias Ritola or Darren Helm. - Matt

According to Griffinshockey.com, the Wings have returned Mattias Ritola and Darren Helm to Grand Rapids. As pointed out by George Malik, that should mean two of Aaron Downey (flu), Tomas Holmstrom (abdominal/groin), Kris Draper (groin tear), and Darren McCarty (ribs) will be back Wednesday night.

My guess? Downey, who should be over his flu, and Holmstrom, whose injury seemed less severe than Draper’s. That would make the forward corps look like this:

Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson
Maltby-Kopecky-Drake
Hartigan-Hudler-Downey

Of course, that’s just speculation. It’s also possible that McCarty could make his return debut at the expense of Downey, though I’d be surprised if Draper plays.