Darren Helm Out Six Weeks With Shoulder Injury

And the injury avalanche continues. The Detroit Red Wings have announced that forward Darren Helm will be out six weeks with a dislocated shoulder. Likely a result of the huge hipcheck he took from Nikita Nesterov during yesterday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Helm is the latest forward to go down today.

After being re-signed by the Red Wings to a five-year deal this offseason, Helm was off to another solid start as an effective two-way centerman. His speed and penalty killing ability has been a big part of the Detroit game for years now, and while he’s never provided a ton of offense, his 25-35 point output is dependable and effective.

Though he won’t need surgery, it’s unclear who will step into his role for the next month and a half, with Riley Sheahan being the most likely candidate. Perhaps a return of Tyler Bertuzzi, who played three games for the Red Wings during his first stint in the NHL is also a possibility.  While Bertuzzi doesn’t have experience at center, Steve Ott has played it extensively in the past and could slide over to the middle of the fourth line.