Archive for the 'Darren Helm' Category

On Abdelkader in GR

Published by Matt Saler on March 18, 2010 at 12:31 pm in Darren Helm, Griffins and Justin Abdelkader. 0 Comments

It’s good to read pieces that describe how Justin’s dealing with the demotion. I gotta say he’s doing it better than Helm did last year.

The circumstances are different (one big one is that Gator’s from West Michigan, so it’s like coming home, as my wife pointed out to me the other day), but Helm was a bit pouty (for lack of a better term) last year when he was banished to the AHL. It didn’t affect is play all that much, but there was a sense among Griffins fans and boosters who got to be around him that he wasn’t happy. It’s understandable, obviously, but ever-so-slightly off-putting. To me, anyway.

Meanwhile, Abdelkader’s taking the lead on the Griffins and hoping to propel them to the playoffs. It won’t be easy and isn’t even mathematically likely, but that’s exactly what you want to hear about the kid. I think he’s going to come back from Grand Rapids a matured player.

Helm on Torres’ Headhunting Saturday

Published by Matt Saler on March 15, 2010 at 4:19 pm in Darren Helm, Headshots, Links and NHL. 0 Comments

Understandable reaction. He’s fortunate Torres wasn’t able to hit him with the full intended impact, that’s for sure. But hey! Next year that might be a penalty!

Also, Babcock’s comments on the Ovechkin/Campbell incident are interesting.

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Helm back, Howard starts again

Published by Matt Saler on December 18, 2009 at 2:51 pm in Chris Osgood, Darren Helm, Injuries, Jimmy Howard and Links. 0 Comments

In a surprising turn of events, Darren Helm will be back tomorrow against Dallas, reports Ansar Khan. Goes against what Babcock indicated last night, but at least it’s good news. And it means no call-up.

Also, Jimmy Howard starts again. Osgood will get to start Sunday against Chicago. Into the fire, Oz.

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Helm Out With Wrist Injury, Newbury Recalled

Published by Matt Saler on December 14, 2009 at 1:29 pm in Darren Helm, Injuries and Kris Newbury. 3 Comments

Update (2:35 PM): Megan on Newbury from the comments:

Oh. My. Gosh. Why, oh why? Newbury is torture. 19 points, sure. You know how you all felt about Bert before he scored 4 goals in 2 games? Yeah. Wasted chances. Turnovers. Stupid decisions with the puck. He is scrappy. Likes to scuffle between whistles, which irritates me. Dumb penalties. Not very fast. Not very big. I don’t like him at all, just ask the people who sit near me at Griffins games. Him and Ritola. I don’t like them. They play on the same line often.

Also, on Nylander, whose name has been batted around today among fans:

The Wings cannot call up Nylander. He is not on a Wing contract. First they would have to get him from Washington. And from what I’ve seen of him in GR, you don’t want him.

Yeah, there’s a reason the Caps are doing eveything they can to not fulfill the spirit of their contract with him, though they’re bound to fulfill the letter. He cleared waivers: the Wings don’t want him. Why they’re okay with him taking TOI from actual Detroit properties is beyond me. Maybe he’d get claimed on re-entry waivers, but Caps have washed their hands of him, so a call-up doesn’t appear to be in his future.

Megan also says this on Twitter:

I’d call up Jeremy Williams, if I was Holland, but I’m not

Williams isn’t listed as a center (has he played in the middle at all?) so that may have been a factor.

- Matt

Distracted or not, gotta post this.

The hits keep on coming: Darren Helm is the latest victim of the assault on the Wings’ health as he’s out tonight with a wrist injury suffered in Nashville. No timetable for return, but he went through tests this morning. Here’s hoping it’s a short-term sprain.

In the meantime, Kris Newbury, of all people, has been called up to center the fourth line. Newbury is notable for his tattoos and the 19 points he’s put up this season. I don’t honestly know a lot about him. Megan may have more.

Fortunately, Filppula’s set to return soon, so even if Helm’s out for a bit, they have the Falling Finn on the horizon. This definitely hurts the team’s energy level, though, as well as its physicality.

Who’s next?

For those wondering why not Tatar, 1) he’s young (as Megan has pointed out in the comments) and 2), he’s on his way the WJC’s. As for Newbury over other guys? Couldn’t tell you.

Helm Nears Comeback, Osgood to Start Again

Published by Matt Saler on October 12, 2009 at 3:27 pm in Brad May, Chris Osgood, Darren Helm, Injuries and Kirk Maltby. 6 Comments

Ansar Khan has the latest on Darren Helm, who may have avoided a conditioning stint with the Griffins due to AHL scheduling. He feels good to go, but Babcock seems a bit reluctant to just insert him in the Wings’ lineup without some games played .

However, the fact that the Griffins don’t play until Saturday may force Babs’ hand because they want to use him in Detroit sooner rather than later. Delaying things another two NHL games is too far on the later side. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him suit up tomorrow night against the Sabres.

Osgood, deservedly, will start his third straight. Khan says to expect Howard to start either Thursday or Saturday. Good assumption on his part. Jimmy needs to get back in the saddle and a gap much longer than sometime this week won’t help him do that. But how will his confidence be if he fails to stop the puck against the lowly Avs or Kings?

Also, it looks like May’s going to be more of a lineup mainstay than just about anyone outside the organization thought: the scratches tomorrow night will apparently include two of Maltby, Draper, Eaves or Helm. Given that Maltby rotated in on the top line and was given a charley horse by a helpful Justin Abdelkader in practice, I think his odds of playing are slim.

Ericsson Okay, Franzen May Not Be

Published by Matt Saler on October 9, 2009 at 2:08 pm in Darren Helm, Injuries, Johan Franzen, Jonathan Ericsson and Links. 0 Comments

Update (2:20 PM): Ansar Khan has the lines used in practice today, which include Helm centering the third line and Filppula on the first line in place of Franzen. If Franzen can’t go tomorrow, though, things get interesting because Helm’s not ready play yet.

Khan thinks Fil would return to the third line, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to stay in Franzen’s spot, with Williams trying his hand at center again, perhaps with Eaves on the wing. It’s also possible Williams gets moved to the top line (please no) if Fil needs to be the third line center. - Matt

George Sipple reports that Jonathan Ericsson practiced today, which is great news. Apparently, the shot involved his knee, not his ankle as I previously thought.

But it looks like Johan Franzen’s status for Saturday’s game against Washington is in doubt. Evidently, he “got bumped” last night and may miss the game with a lower body injury after skipping out on practice today. No idea what happened or when. He finished the game with no obvious signs of injury.

We should know more tomorrow, but don’t be surprised if he’s out and both May and Eaves are in.

Also, Helm is close to returning, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

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10/5 Lebda, Helm Update:

Published by Matt Saler on October 5, 2009 at 1:57 pm in Brett Lebda, Darren Helm, Derek Meech, Injuries and Justin Abdelkader. 4 Comments

Based on this Ansar Khan report, it sounds like Chris McCosky’s speculation on Lebda’s sitting on the bench Saturday was correct.

Khan says Derek Meech will be in the lineup Thursday for Brett, and mentions nothing about any injury to Lebda. Instead, he cites Lebs’ performance over the weekend and claims he was benched in the second game. Unless Khan’s leaving something out, it sounds like Brett’s not hurt (except for his pride, presumably).

This gives Meech a chance to prove himself, which won’t be too easy given how little he’s actually played over the last year. He’s sure to get limited use.

As for Lebda, I’m not going to pretend he was stellar this weekend. He wasn’t, not by a long shot. But he’s taking a fall here a bit unfairly. He’s certainly not the reason the penalty kill sucked or the reason the power play was underwhelming.

If today’s practice units are any indication, there won’t be any other lineup changes Thursday. Except, that is, for Chris Osgood, who’ll start in favor of Jimmy Howard. Patrick Eaves is still working in on the fourth line in practice, having apparently found it difficult to beat out Kirk Maltby for a forward spot.

In other news: according to Khan, it looks like Darren Helm is still at least a game away, as he has some recovering yet to do. Abdelkader’s NHL stint will continue, unless Helm has a speedier recovery than expected this week.

Helm out 2-4 weeks with shoulder sprain

Published by Matt Saler on September 14, 2009 at 7:37 pm in Darren Helm, Henrik Zetterberg and Injuries. 0 Comments

First bit of bad news from camp*: Darren Helm took a tumble into the boards today and sprained his shoulder (technically, his AC joint), reports Helene St. James.

Fortunately, though, the injury is not serious as it will only keep him out 2-4 weeks. That would put him back as early as the 30th for the pre-season game with Farjestads BK Karlstad the season opener against St. Louis on October 2nd, or as late as the October 13th game in Buffalo. Even in the worst-case scenario, he won’t miss any meaningful games.

Still, he’ll miss camp and the pre-season, which is important despite being shorter this year.An unfortunate start to his first full NHL year.

*Actually, the news yesterday about a “nagging” groin injury of Zetterberg’s wasn’t so hot, either, but at least it’s not sidelining him. Still, it’s a little disconcerting that he’s already got anything nagging him at all at this point in the year.

Helm Vs. Chicago, Shorthanded (New Video)

Published by Matt Saler on May 27, 2009 at 9:10 pm in Blackhawks, Darren Helm, Playoffs and Video. 3 Comments

Update (9:21 PM): Found a better version. See below. - Matt

I’m hoping a better version of this comes up soon, but this’ll have to do for now:

Heck of a shift by Helm in the second period of tonight’s Game 5. 0-0 through two. My favorite part? When he ducks Campbell’s check.

Draper Out, Helm In, Cleary Status Unknown

Published by Matt Saler on April 14, 2009 at 1:47 pm in Darren Helm, Injuries, Kris Draper and Ville Leino. 3 Comments

Update (8:55 PM): George Sipple says Leino has in fact been called up, but only as a precaution in case Cleary can’t go. The AHL apparently isn’t very quick with the whole updating the wire thing. It doesn’t list the recall yet. – Matt

Update (8:00 PM): MacLeod now has it from Holland that Cleary might be in for Game 1. Given that Leino apparently hasn’t been called up yet, that’s not really a surprise. If there was much doubt, it seems likely Leino would be in Detroit already since it’d be important to get him around the team. – Matt

Bruce MacLeod reports that Kris Draper will miss at least the first two games of the playoffs with that upper body injury. Darren Helm will enter the lineup as a result.

Also, Dan Cleary left practice early after a Kronwall hit sent him into the boards. His status for Thursday is unknown.

If he can’t go, Ville Leino will probably get the call since the team would only have 11 healthy forwards without him. Keep an eye on the AHL wire.