Darren Helm

[Guest Lidstromboli]

nvm wrong thread

Edited November 22, 2009 by Lidstromboli

[KillerB14 2]

Does anyone remember how importanrt, even from a 3rd, 4th line, Draper has been to the Wings for the past 15 years???

I think it's fantastic that we have a Draper-style player ready to take his place. Not every player the Wings bring up needs to be a high scorer. a great role playing core is what finalized those 4 cups(maybe not 2002)

[Number19 159]

I have never thought he would develop a scoring touch. I see him as a better version of Draper. Helm could fill a great roll on this team if he can be the 3rd line center consistently.

It's OK to have a fast guy that can play defense and hit but can't score much. You need those guys to win Cups, just like you need big time scorers.

Current Draper? Or prime Draper?

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Current Draper? Or prime Draper?

I would have agreed with this response maybe last year, but he's stepped up this year.

Last year = old Draper... 2009-10 = new old Drapes?

[Carman 387]

Posted this in another thread, might as well post it in a thread named after the player aswell. Just my perspective on Helm, and what he might be capable of.

I'm not saying Helm will turn into a 80+ point player, but he does have a gift that very few players have with that speed. That is something you cannot teach, another thing is offensive instincts and he is getting plenty of opportunities which is something that is in itself impressive in his current role. I wouldn't write him totally off in terms of his potential. Scoring touch/shooting can be worked on and he is still young. I don't believe it's totally senseless to have a realistic expectation of not being surprised to see him suddenly breakout. He was a decent scorer in juniors and always seemed to be a late-bloomer so who knows. Either he will be a top-notch checking forward, or become a pretty good secondary scorer either way the Wing's have a great young player that will help the team for a long time to come.

[kylee 727]

I'm not going to pass judgement on Helm's whole career based on 15 games played in his first full season. I also don't think his scoring touch is the reason he's on this team.

im in the same camp. its just too early but i do see many promising aspects to his game:

penalty kill role,

finishes his checks

speed

if he can develop a scoring touch, then were all in for an even better treat.

[blankrap 9]

ZOMG HE MISSED TWO BREAKAWAY OPPORTUNITIES, ZOMG CLEARLY A ONE-GAME SAMPLE SIZE IS ENOUGH TO DECLARE HIM A FAILURE.

I'll say it again: obligatory "we lost, so clearly there's something wrong with the team and we need to make changes" threads.

This thread is soooo yesterday. Wings won one... so there is nothing wrong with helm now

[dropkickshanahans 463]

I've been noticing lately that he's been taking alot of quick shots from the sideboards to catch the goalie off guard. He takes this shot in a way to use the defensemen as a screen, and I believe he scored once this year doing this. I believe it was against Toronto. So I guess that tells me that he understands some aspects of the offensive game.

While I'm not saying he'll be a breakout 30+ goal scorer, he does seem to have some understanding of the offense that could possibly get better if he worked hard at it. With that said, I'm a happy camper with the way he's playing right now without putting points on the board. Hell I'm happy with the way Eaves and Draper are playing along side him as well. That line is going to be the key factor in keeping our games close and not out of reach if they can wear down the opposing team (with all the injuries we have).

[lomekian 201]

To be fair, if he'd shown any great scoring instincts, considering his speed and work ethic we would never have picked him up in the 5th round.....I could see him developing in that area, and suspect that much like draper he'll have one or two higher scoring seasons when he has to take on a larger role, but esssentially he'll be a 10 goal 30 point a season man for much of the forseeable, which is plenty given what else he offers...

[Barrie 900]

I love Darren Helm, he flies around the ice and can hit and handle the puck, but after last nights game , does anyone believe he will ever develop a scoring touch? He blew 2 breakaways tonight and has never really been able to finish. If he can never finish will he ever be more than a 3rd/4th liner?

Helm is a 3rd or 4th liner, so I don't see a problem.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Was Helm ever projected to be a top 6 scorer? From what I remember, the Wings brass always had him penned in as a solid checker, and he's doing that just fine.

Helm is a 3rd or 4th liner, so I don't see a problem.

^ These.

I'd love for Helm to score more but the above is his job.

[cjm502 165]

I've been noticing lately that he's been taking alot of quick shots from the sideboards to catch the goalie off guard. He takes this shot in a way to use the defensemen as a screen, and I believe he scored once this year doing this. I believe it was against Toronto. So I guess that tells me that he understands some aspects of the offensive game.

While I'm not saying he'll be a breakout 30+ goal scorer, he does seem to have some understanding of the offense that could possibly get better if he worked hard at it. With that said, I'm a happy camper with the way he's playing right now without putting points on the board. Hell I'm happy with the way Eaves and Draper are playing along side him as well. That line is going to be the key factor in keeping our games close and not out of reach if they can wear down the opposing team (with all the injuries we have).

I noticed the same thing, although his goal was actually against the Oil. If Helm keeps taking as many shots as he is he will get better eventually.

[Shaman 713]

Well, what about Draper like stats? 30 pts avg, 40 pts on a good year? Does anyone think Helm could one day make that level? I never wanted to come across like i thought hecould somehow become the next Dats or Z or that anyone else believes that.

Edited November 22, 2009 by Shaman464

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Well, what about Draper like stats? 30 pts avg, 40 pts on a good year? Does anyone think Helm could one day make that level? I never wanted to come across like i thought hecould somehow become the next Dats or Z or that anyone else believes that.

Possible. But not his primarily role.

[Guest Four]

Helm needs to practice with Z and Datsyuk just to get that scoring touch in him for the breakaways.

[taxijim 11]

Helm needs to practice with Z and Datsyuk just to get that scoring touch in him for the breakaways.

I would love to see him get a shift just once in a while with these guys.......him digging the puck out for Z and Dats would be lethal for the opposition!

[Miller Brew 0]

I love this kid. Helm is a HUGE boost for this team. Glad he's wearing a Red Wings sweater.

[Shaman 713]

The whole reason for starting this thread is everyone calls him the next draper, now we all know Draper was good at the breakaway especially on the PK, he use to be great at bearing it. Will Helm be like draper in this respect in the future?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Honestly, I think him and Ericsson played a lot better in the playoffs than what they're doing now.

I guess because of their playoff performances, many like myself expected more out of them now that they're regulars.

[StormJH1 231]

Honestly, I think him and Ericsson played a lot better in the playoffs than what they're doing now.

I guess because of their playoff performances, many like myself expected more out of them now that they're regulars.

They did. But we have reset our expectations to a more realistic level.

The Red Wings have a crappy draft position year-in-year-out, and yet have had a great track record nabbing a few elite level players with extremely low draft picks. But just like any other team, they've missed on far more prospects than they've hit on.

Helm was a 5th round draft pick, and was never really hyped as being a legimiate Top 6 goal scorer in the NHL. He played nearly a full season in the AHL in 07-08 and scored 16 goals. Those should be his expectations.

But put on the Winged Wheel and suddenly people think you're a hidden gem. Plus, he played out of his mind in both of the last two playoffs, yet still only scored 4 goals in 23 playoff games last year. Even if he kept that level up over a full regular season, that still only put him on pace for 12-15 goals.

Ericsson hasn't looked as steady either, but the obvious counter to that would be that he was basically Nicklas Lidstrom's defense partner once Rafalski went down last year. This year, he plays with Lebda. Yeah, a little different.

Leino has disappointed me too, though only to the extent that he hasn't generated a lot on his own. But when the opporunties are there for him, he has shown an ability to finish plays that you can't teach. Again, though, as good as he was in Finland, his AHL numbers last year weren't even as good as Helm's, so you have to have realistic expectations.

[Wombat 26]

The whole reason for starting this thread is everyone calls him the next draper, now we all know Draper was good at the breakaway especially on the PK, he use to be great at bearing it. Will Helm be like draper in this respect in the future?

I don't think Draper has ever been good at breakaways. I've always called him "1 in 20" because he seems to only bury 1 out of every 20 breakaway chances he gets.

Draper had a good offensive stretch in the early 2000's and Helm could probably match that when he gets some good experience over the years. I don't think Helm will ever consistently score more than 15 goals in a season.

[Miller Brew 0]

If Helm was to ever turn into a mad goal scorer, then we'd lose him because there is no way the Wings would be able to afford a Helm type skater that can bury 25-30 goals per year. If he stays at 15 goals per year, we can afford him.

This thread only exists because Red Wings lost so many goal scorers and points producers from long term injuries. Helm shouldn't be the player expected to make up the goals lost. Helm is a great PKer, energy guy that will wear down the opposition... and even piss them off with his strong skating and work ethics. To put up 25+ goals shouldn't be expected from him, though nice if it does happen.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Will he ever develop a scoring touch? Not a top six scoring touch. He's never had the hands to be a scorer at the NHL level. He'll score infrequently, like he has in the playoffs (6 goals over the last two years), and that will be entirely because of his hustle and speed, not because he has soft hands. Helm's scoring upside is about as small as it gets for an NHL rookie that's not a fighter. He's going to be more of a Draper type of guy (minus Draper's 20g year).

But then again the Wings don't love him for his ability to occasionally score. The Wings love this kid because he's a spark-plug who can skate like an olympic speedskater, hustles for every single puck, hits people all over the ice and he's got the perfect set of defensive skills.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Honestly, I think him and Ericsson played a lot better in the playoffs than what they're doing now.

I guess because of their playoff performances, many like myself expected more out of them now that they're regulars.

I think that is because of a couple things:

1. They were fighting for a starting spot on the roster.

2. The playoffs cause role guys to become much more important players

Seems natural they would regress once the playoffs were over and they were guaranteed jobs.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I think that is because of a couple things:

1. They were fighting for a starting spot on the roster.

2. The playoffs cause role guys to become much more important players

Seems natural they would regress once the playoffs were over and they were guaranteed jobs.

Those lazy, spoiled bastards. I knew it.