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In what could very well be his farewell season as a Detroit Red Wing, the numbers haven’t quite been adding up for forward Darren Helm.
With 4-9-13 totals through 45 games, Helm is on pace for seven goals and 23 points, which would be his lowest offensive output in a full NHL season. It’s even more glaring considering that he is coming off career-best 15-18-33 numbers in 2014-15.
Helm’s 4.5 per cent shooting percentage is second worst among Detroit forwards, ahead of only Drew Miller (3.7 per cent).
Helm, though, sees a silver lining in his lowered output.
“I’ve struggled to find consistency as far as points, yeah,” Helm admitted. “But I think I’ve strung along some good stretches of games where I haven’t produced.
“It’s been a little bit difficult this year than the previous years (in terms of scoring), but there’s still lots of games left and I still have lots to prove.”
Away from the puck, Helm figures he’s been his usual self and that’s someone who is strong on the forecheck, goes hard to the net, works the corners and is difficult to play against.
“Yeah, I think I’ve still done lots of good things” Helm said. “I’ve been drawing lots of penalties. I think I look at that as something I’m obviously doing right if guys are taking penalties on me.
“Usually I’m moving my feet pretty well, so that’s a positive. I’ve just got to find ways to contribute in other ways.”
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill wants Helm, an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, to focus on his overall game and not be concerned that he must pile up the points in order to get paid.
“The biggest thing is the process of how you play every day,” Blashill said. “Goals come and go. Even the best players, the point producers in the world, they go through times when they don’t get points.
“You have to make sure for his sake that his attention to detail’s really good. When he’s on pucks he’s as good as anybody at winning loose-puck battles, loose-puck races.
“Helm has helped us score goals in the last 5-10 games by being a great net presence that he doesn’t get points for, but he’s a big reason why we’ve scored. So I think he’s played well.
“I think he just needs to continue to play the way has and take the same approach.”
Helm, who’s had plenty of scoring opportunities that he hasn’t been able to convert, feels the urgency to start making those chances count.
“It’s a tough league, it’s tough to do it every night but you’ve got to find ways to do it, to contribute and that’s what I’ve got to work on,” Helm said.
Yzerman, McCarty Added
A couple of big names have been added to the roster for the alumni game between the Wings and Colorado Avalanche that will be part of the Stadium Series festivities at Coors Field.
Long-time Detroit captain Steve Yzerman has confirmed he will play, as has tough guy Darren McCarty, meaning that he’ll be on the same ice as Colorado’s Claude Lemieux, just as they were that infamous night of March 26, 1997, when McCarty pounded Lemieux in retribution for Lemieux running Kris Draper from behind into the boards during the final game of the 1996 Western Conference final between the two teams.
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