Darren Helm - Career in Question?

[Jedi 1,865]

But if he is put on it I thought he can't come back? I'm not sure how it works. But I thought it was like ir in football where you ccan't come off it mid season once put on.

There are restrictions to LTIR, but they're not nearly as bad as you think. When a player is placed on LTIR, the team can effectively reduce his cap hit to zero allowing teams to overspend that player's share of the cap while he's injured. I say "effectively", because the cap hit is only reduced to zero if the replacement salary (such as a call up or signing) pushes the team over the salary cap.

To be placed on Long Term Injured Reserve, a player has to be deemed unable to play for a minimum of 10 games or 24 calendar days. If a player is placed on LTIR and heals faster, he must then wait out the minimum time, so he would be unavailable even if healthy. Once the player is healthy enough to play, he can be reactivated and is available immediately (provided it's been longer than 10 games/24 days). However, if a team used the cap space that was saved by the player on injured reserve, they must cut salary to be cap compliant again.

[blgillett 48]

Any time a player misses a whole year of hockey there is always question if he will ever play again and for good reason. I hope he is well enough to train this summer and ready to go next season he makes us a better team

[Mike J. 132]

I really hope this is all cleared up by the time training camp starts. Helm is one of my favorite players to watch, and lord knows the Wings could have used him during these playoffs. He is pretty much the spearhead of their energy game. They need those young energy players. I feel like Nyquist really stepped up into that role during the playoffs, I'd love to see him on a line with Helmer.

[Guest The Axe]

Isnt there a world renowned specialist somewhere who can help us? Dang

[marcaractac 3,962]

I really hope this is all cleared up by the time training camp starts. Helm is one of my favorite players to watch, and lord knows the Wings could have used him during these playoffs. He is pretty much the spearhead of their energy game. They need those young energy players. I feel like Nyquist really stepped up into that role during the playoffs, I'd love to see him on a line with Helmer.

Would love to see Nyquist, Helm and Cleary as the third line next season. Speed, skill, and grit. Would be a very balanced and effective 3rd line

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

Take it for what its worth:

My friend works at a restaurant in Royal Oak that Darren Helm frequents, and he showed up tonight. Apparently Helm says his back is feeling better and next season will be great. I don't know how much of this is Helm telling a fan what he wants to hear, or whether it is sincere, but there was no visible pain or discomfort as he was moving around.

Thing is though Helm may feel great while he is not playing. However skating puts stress on any player's back. So he could rest for 3 months and then the back pain could return right away. No one really knows. Not even him. I hope the rest cures it. I really do. I want to be optimistic. I guess we will just have to wait and see and hope for the best.

[wingsfan4795 552]

Isnt there a world renowned specialist somewhere who can help us? Dang

Dr house?

I'm sure he'll come back. Hopefully at the beginning of the season. I just hope he doesn't lose any of his speed when he comes back

[wingfan1991 221]

man he better be back in full swing come october.. what a world of a difference he would make!

[kook_10 1,705]

considering he is doing elliptical because riding a bike hurts, i am skeptical. i really hope for the best though.

[Guest DeGraa55]

I don't get why people think he is DAT.

The side doesn't score which is what our issue was. Yes our pk will improve but its all ready good. Our issue is and was putting pucks in the net.

[dropkickshanahans 463]

I don't get why people think he is DAT.

The side doesn't score which is what our issue was. Yes our pk will improve but its all ready good. Our issue is and was putting pucks in the net.

No, not a big time scorer and never will be, but he does take a load off of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, puts pressure on the other team with his forechecking and brings energy. I've always thought he was our third most important forward.

I think he would have been the difference maker this series if healthy since, for example, Babcock wouldn't have to worry about getting Z out on the ice every time Toews got on.

[Guest DeGraa55]

No, not a big time scorer and never will be, but he does take a load off of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, puts pressure on the other team with his forechecking and brings energy. I've always thought he was our third most important forward.

I think he would have been the difference maker this series if healthy since, for example, Babcock wouldn't have to worry about getting Z out on the ice every time Toews got on.

I guess we will disagree here as he wouldn't of been a difference maker. Again our bottom 6 was fine(yes he makes it better...a lot better). But our problem is top 6 size and scoring. Again he is neither.

[Mitchmac33 103]

I guess we will disagree here as he wouldn't of been a difference maker. Again our bottom 6 was fine(yes he makes it better...a lot better). But our problem is top 6 size and scoring. Again he is neither.

As he said though, if Helm can take on Toews that means Z is not out against a good defensive player in toews and can worry more about scoring than shutting down Toews.

[Guest DeGraa55]

As he said though, if Helm can take on Toews that means Z is not out against a good defensive player in toews and can worry more about scoring than shutting down Toews.

The problem is his linemates can't handle toews linemates. He is a bottom 6 guy. If he was on the team this year he is on fourth line. So you want him emmerton and eaves out verse toews? That's pure stupidity sorry.

Unless there's an icing or something most of the time top 6 players face top 6 players....same with bottom 6.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

The problem is his linemates can't handle toews linemates. He is a bottom 6 guy. If he was on the team this year he is on fourth line. So you want him emmerton and eaves out verse toews? That's pure stupidity sorry.

Unless there's an icing or something most of the time top 6 players face top 6 players....same with bottom 6.

Helm with Miller and eaves would be a great shut down line. They're all PK guys so they're more than used to going up against Toews and his linemates.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Helm with Miller and eaves would be a great shut down line. They're all PK guys so they're more than used to going up against Toews and his linemates.

But pk is different than 5 on 5. I just don't see that happening.

[Mitchmac33 103]

The problem is his linemates can't handle toews linemates. He is a bottom 6 guy. If he was on the team this year he is on fourth line. So you want him emmerton and eaves out verse toews? That's pure stupidity sorry.

Unless there's an icing or something most of the time top 6 players face top 6 players....same with bottom 6.

I'd be perfectly content having Eaves - Helm - Miller out against Toews' line. Emmerton not so much, but with helm in Emmerton is clearly the odd man out.

[kickazz 5,459]

Dr house?

I'm sure he'll come back. Hopefully at the beginning of the season. I just hope he doesn't lose any of his speed when he comes back

Most likely will. Speed is 100% related to back strength. And so all we can hope is they find what the back issue is and fix it. If it's never diagnosed, it's going to be a risky game.

[xtrememachine1 795]

I never thought I'd say this about a forward whose career high in goals is 12, but we NEED him. His speed does so much for us. So many times during that Hawks series, I would see their defensemen pinch in and make a play and I kept thinking to myself, "Damn, I bet if Helm was out there, they wouldn't be pinching in like that so often". When Helm's on the ice, the d-men HAVE to stay back or he'll be behind them. His speed, defensive skills and faceoff ability have made his skill set invaluable.

I really hope this back injury problem gets healed completely and this injury is behind him for good.

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

Most likely will. Speed is 100% related to back strength. And so all we can hope is they find what the back issue is and fix it. If it's never diagnosed, it's going to be a risky game.

Respectfully, I 100% disagree with your statement above. Are you saying leg strength, leg drive, push technique, abdominal/core strength, etc... don't have anything to do with speed?? Back strength is certainly a factor, but not THE 100% factor!

Edited June 6, 2013 by Learn2LuvIt

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Respectfully, I 100% disagree with your statement above. Are you saying leg strength, leg drive, push technique, abdominal/core strength, etc... don't have anything to do with speed?? Back strength is certainly a factor, but THE 100% factor!

Agreed. I know this from personal agony. Back pain just slows you down, and a lot. But leg strength and core pushes you forward.

[sleepwalker 512]

Respectfully, I 100% disagree with your statement above.

He said back strength is directly RELATED to speed. There is no arguing with that statement as it is 100% true.

[Guest Crymson]

But pk is different than 5 on 5. I just don't see that happening.

The line of Moen, Niedermayer, and Pahlsson, all of whom were defensive forwards, was excellent in 2007.

[Vladifan 680]

What worked for me - although it took them two operations to figure it out - is fusion of the 3rd and 4th vertebrae, with screws and stuff put in. They tried a laminectomy first and that just made it worse. The nerves are now free to do their thing and I have had no back pain whatsoever since January. I'd like to think they've looked at all possibilities, but OF COURSE I could have given this information if they'd just called. But neeeuuuoooooo...!

[Guest fat guy in a maltby jersey]

he's done - stick a fork in him.