DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm is pleased with the progress he has made following surgery to repair lacerated tendons in his right forearm.

The splint was removed on Wednesday. Helm anticipates returning to his normal workout regimen later this summer and being ready for the start of training camp on Sept. 22.

“The strength is coming back, the movement is pretty good,'' Helm said Thursday, during Nicklas Lidstrom's retirement press conference. “Doctors are saying I should make a full recovery.''

Helm was injured in Game 1 of the playoffs in Nashville on April 11, when he was cut by Alexander Radulov's skate blade six minutes into the first period. He had surgery the same night. It was his first game back after missing 3½ weeks with a sprained left medial collateral ligament.

“I'm starting to do more therapy on (his arm), where I can do different strength activities,'' Helm said. “(Wednesday) was really the first day outside of the cast, so doctors took a look at it and said it's ahead of schedule.

"I should be working out hard in a couple of months and get back and ready for camp.''

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