Helm’s season appears could be over

DETROIT – Quick update from Wings practice Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena.

Wings coach Mike Babcock is getting to the point where he’s not expecting to have forward Darren Helm back this season.

“Well he’s not going to play hockey this year we don’t think,” Babcock said after practice. “We have to get ourselves ready for the playoffs and be ready to go on without him.”

Helm has been sidelined pretty much the entire season with a slightly torn disc in his back.

“I’m trying to stay positive, I think my spirits are a little bit higher than they have been,” Helm said. “It feels better, but I still can’t really put any time on what’s going on.

“I’ve been skating for a while, working out for a while, working really hard,” Helm continued. “It’s just that I still feel pain, feel a lot of discomfort. When that stops … I don’t know if one day I’ll wake up and feel great or it’s going to be kind of gradual thing.”

Helm has played one game this year.

“I don’t really have anything else to add,” Helm said. “Just going by how I feel. I’ve been feeling decent. There’s nothing else I can really add to that.”

Helm skated on his own Tuesday and continues to be day-to-day based on how he feels.

“Each day we do a little more and go by how we feel,” Helm said. “I feel like there has been a change since the last couple weeks but don’t know what’s going on.

“I’ve been skating since they went to Anaheim (trip), I was skating by myself on the ice, just (warmup suit), when they got back I was skating in full equipment, then I didn’t go on last trip,” Helm added. “I stayed behind to skate.”

Helm has been on the wrong end of a rash of injuries of late.

He missed the Wings’ week-long training camp and the first three games of the season with a back injury, which was the first of his playing career.

He hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an orbital bone.

On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular-season games with a sprained MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate.

Helm sees specialist

DETROIT — Darren Helm saw a back specialist in New York on Monday, who thinks he may have seen something different on the MRI.

“He gave him some medication,” Holland said. “We’re going to see where he’s at 4-5 days. When we’re back in town we’ll see how he’s responded to the medication, Friday or Saturday.”

Helm, who has played one game this season, has been on the wrong end of a rash of injuries even before the season began.

He missed the Wings’ week-long training camp with a back injury.

He hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an orbital bone.

On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular season games with a sprained MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate.

The Wings have missed Helm’s speed and last season Babcock called him the best third-line center in the league.

Helm doubtful for opener; Samuelsson improving

PLYMOUTH — Darren Helm (back) missed the third day of camp and is doubtful for Saturday night’s opener in St. Louis.

“Each day has been a little bit better, so I really don’t know when I’ll be on the ice,” Helm said. “Just day-by-day, play it by ear.

“Probably pretty doubtful to play,” Helm added when asked about opener. “Still have to get on the ice first. That’s probably a couple days away.”

Helm hasn’t skated since last Thursday and hasn’t had another test since an MRI on Sunday.

“I can’t really lift anything up right now, can’t bend over too well,” Helm said. “I’ll have to tie my skates before I skate around. It is hurting. It’s a small injury but bugs me quite a bit. I have to make sure I can actually skate before I go out there.”

Helm said this is his first back injury.

“I’m just kind of listening to what they’re saying and trusting them, like I’ve done before,” Helm said. “Just being really cautious with it and when it’s ready it’s ready. It’s a short season. Obviously, I’ve got to get back quickly but I can’t rush it and be out for another 3-4 weeks. I’ve got to be smart with it.”

Helm has been on the wrong end of a rash of injuries of late.

On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular season games with a sprained MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate. He was also hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an orbital bone.

“I’ve been watching a lot of games, been sidelined for a year and a bit with different types of injuries,” Helm said. “It is a bit frustrating, but hoping it’s sooner or later.”

Mikael Samuelsson said an ultrasound revealed nothing on his injured groin.

“It’s a minor, minor thing,” Samuelsson said. “It’s not a big deal, but you don’t want to start like this.”

Samuelsson said it’s very possible he’ll be on the ice Thursday and feels he’ll be ready for the opener.

“I will be ready for Saturday if the coach wants me,” Samuelsson said.