The recovery process continues for injured Detroit Red Wings player Darren Helm, but the 25-year-old center still remains on schedule to join his team at the start of training camp on September 22.
Helm left the ice in visible pain just six minutes into Detroit's opening round game with Nashville after being slashed on his forearm by the blade of an opponents skate. He had surgery to repair what turned out to be torn tendons from the freak injury later that evening, and after nearly two months, finally had his splint removed on Wednesday.
"Wednesday was really the first day outside of the cast, so doctors took a look at it and said it's ahead of schedule," Helm told reporters at Nicklas Lidstrom's retirement ceremony. "I should be working out hard in a couple of months and get back and ready for camp.''
Though he has only tallied 32 goals over the last three seasons with Detroit, Helm remains a vital part of the Red Wings' future as a versatile scorer in both power play and penalty kill situations. The Winnipeg native was 15th on the team in minutes per contest this past year at just 14:31 per game, but figures to see much more ice time in the future assuming he makes a full recovery.
For more on the Red Wings, head over to Winging It In Motown. For more NHL coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NHL hub.