Darren Helm Out At Least Six Weeks With Dislocated Shoulder

By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid

With one Red Wings forward nearing a return, another is headed to the shelf.

The team announced today that Darren Helm will be out a minimum of six weeks due to a dislocated shoulder. Helm is headed for the long-term injured reserve just as Thomas Vanek (hip) is preparing to come off it.

Vanek is eligible - and expected - to return on Sunday.

Helm's injury occurred in Detroit's 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. The speedy forward was upended by Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov and fell hard to the ice. He was removed from the game and did not return.

According to coach Jeff Blashill, Helm will not need surgery. He will be re-evaluated in the weeks ahead.

With both Helm and Vanek unavailable for the Wings' game against the Washington Capitals on Friday, the team will be forced to call up a forward from AHL Grand Rapids. Tyler Bertuzzi is the obvious candidate. The scrappy 21-year-old held his own in three appearances last week, before being returned to the minors on Tuesday.

Helm got off to a fast start this season, tallying eight points in his first seven games. He had not recorded a point in the nine contests since.

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• NHL