Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm joined his teammates in practice on Wednesday for the first time in five months, as Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. The 25-year-old has been recovering from a large gash he received on his right arm during Game 1 of last spring's playoff series against the Nashville Predators.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Helm mentioned how the injury still lingers occasionally:
I can still feel it when I do things I normally do. The weight isn't quite there yet -- I haven't been lifting as much as I normally do. So a little bit behind in that aspect, but everything I've done so far, it's felt good. It's not sore, it's not painful -- it's not any of that. I just know something happened to it.
On April 11, Helm was cut on the right forearm by a skate blade during Game 1 against Nashville. After rushing off the ice with blood gushing from his arm, Helm underwent surgery that night, but it's taken months for the tendons to fully heal.
This summer, the Red Wings signed Helm to a four-year, $8.5 million contract, so they obviously have faith in the center's ability despite the injury.
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