Update on injured Wings center Darren Helm.

The Detroit Red Wings lost veteran center Darren Helm in early November to a shoulder injury, and while the initial prognosis was a six week recovery time, there was some hope he would return before the holidays.

On Thursday Helm himself seemed to dash those hopes when he spoke to the assembled media and indicated that it was unlikely he would return in 2016. According to Helen St. James of the Detroit Free Press Helm informed her that he hopes to return after Christmas but that a come back after the new year is the more realistic outcome.

The Red Wings are currently at risk of missing the postseason for the first time in a very long time, and getting a big part of their offense like Helm back as soon as possible will be critical to their chances of turning the season around. In 17 games with the Wings this season Helm had four goals and three assists and was a plus minus of 6, so hopefully he can come back in that strong form to help the Wings when he does return.

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