Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm has been a member of the team since the 2007-08 season, and you won’t get a much better rookie experience than lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup in June.
And this season could soon spell the end of his tenure wearing the Winged Wheel.
Helm, who is in the final year of a five year contract he signed in 2016, is a pending unrestricted free-agent, and could be potentially used as trade bait by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches. He’s scored two goals with four assists in 31 games this season, and though his offensive output may not look impressive, playoff teams could be attracted to Helm’s speed and defensive capabilities.
And according to Helm, he’d be fine with either playing out his contract or moving on to a new city for a new playoff challenge.
“It would be a lot of fun to play playoff hockey again,” Helm said Tuesday. “It would be great to finish my career in Detroit as well. I’m open to anything.
“I do want to play another year or two, so whatever gives me a better opportunity to play more hockey. I love Detroit. I love playing here, but if there’s an opportunity somewhere else, I’d be fine with that. We’ll just see what happens.”
Detroit is once again going to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the fifth straight season they’re on the outside looking in. For Helm, who has played in 82 career postseason games, he misses the competition.
“I don’t watch a lot of hockey throughout the year but the last couple of years I found myself watching playoff hockey, kind of miss it,” Helm said. “To be a part of it would be a lot of fun, a good opportunity as well. Whatever happens, happens.”
The NHL Trade Deadline is April 12 at 3:00 PM EST.
– – Quotes via Ansar Khan of MLive Link – –
Helm sounds ready to leave for a playoff team. Good luck.
Time to move on.