DETROIT – Just when Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm appeared on the verge of returning to action, he experienced what he called “a minor'' setback on Monday.

Helm left the ice after 10 minutes during an optional practice due to the ailing back (slightly torn disc) that forced him to miss all but one game this season.

He will stay off the ice until he feels better and won't play Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena.

“When we only have a shortened season, it’s getting upsetting to not be able to play,'' Helm said. “We have a handful of games left, it’s tough sitting here watching.

“You don’t want to force yourself to try and get back earlier. I just need to listen to the doctors, (trainers) Piet (Van Zant) and Russ (Baumann) and, I’ll say it again, just take it one day at a time.''

Helm, out since Jan. 25, practiced with the team for several days last week. He wonders if the travel to Western Canada or the extra drills he had been doing attributed to the setback.

“It didn’t feel too good, traveling, sitting down a lot; I don’t know if that was the cause of it,'' Helm said. “We were pushing pretty hard on the ice and added in a few new exercises. I don’t know if it was one of the combination of it all, but the last couple of days it’s just not feeling the way it was earlier after the (pain-killing) shots. Hopefully, this is just a minor, minor setback.''

He is hoping to be back on the ice in a couple of days and accompany the team on the four-game Western trip that starts Friday in Anaheim. He'll continue to work out in the gym.

“I think if I was just going out there and skating by myself with no pucks I could have stayed out there a little longer,'' Helm said. “Shooting kind of aggravated it a little bit, so I’ll stop doing that.''

Due to a series of injuries, including a sprained knee and lacerated tendons in his forearm, Helm has played only full game in slightly more than 365 days.

“He's just got to stay positive, knowing he's a big part of our organization,'' coach Mike Babcock said. “He's got to get through this and get healthy.''

What can the club expect if Helm returns with only a handful of games remaining? Plenty, according to Babcock. The Red Wings need his speed and energy, his forechecking ability, his physical play and his penalty killing.

“We're in crunch time; guys who are playing and playing well aren't losing their jobs to people that are coming back unless the guy coming back has earned the right to play over time,'' Babcock said. “Helmer, we'd welcome back at any time. Let's not kid ourselves. He's a good player. Now, does it get to a point where he can't help us? Not the Helmer I know. The Helmer I know can help us at any time.''

-- Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on Twitter