Red Wings' Helm out for playoffs

The Detroit Red Wings got word Thursday that forward Darren Helm would be lost for the remainder of the season after undergoing successful surgery to repair lacerated tendons on his right forearm.

Helm suffered the injury when he was cut by the skate of Nashville’s Alexander Radulov in the first period of Wednesday night’s Western Conference quarterfinals.

“He’s an important guy,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “I’m disappointed for Darren because he worked real hard to be back for the playoffs.


“He plays with tremendous passion and determination. I know how much he loves this game. It’s a big loss, but that’s playoff hockey.”

The injury is without a doubt a big loss for Detroit who relies heavily on Helm’s speed and fore checking ability, especially on the power play. It’s also ironic considering Helm was injured off the skate of a player in Radulov who many have questioned whether or not he should even be playing for Nashville given he just completed a season in the KHL.

Helm is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the beginning of next season.

With Helm being gone, Babcock will more than likely move Justin Abdelkader up to the third line center, move Emmerton back down to fourth line center and insert either Gustav Nyquist or Chris Connor in the lineup Friday night.