Red Wings outlook: Darren Helm

Darren Helm, who typically centers the third line for the Red Wings, will start the season on a top-two line.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – Nowhere did injuries hurt the Detroit Red Wings more in 2013-14 than at center.

At one point, the four centers they used to start the season were out at the same time (Pavel Datsyuk, Stephen Weiss, Darren Helm and Joakim Andersson), in addition to Henrik Zetterberg, who moved back and forth from center to wing.

This season they have more centers than they have places for in the lineup. That's why coach Mike Babcock is moving Helm to the wing. The fast-skating, tenacious checker will have a different role – as Datsyuk's wing man on a scoring line.

Babcock said he's making the move because he has Riley Sheahan and either Luke Glendening or Andersson as centers on the third and fourth lines. He also believes Helm and Datsyuk can help each other.

"(Helm's) tenacity, pace, heaviness on the puck and because I've got to have room for other guys, I think he can help," Babcock said. "I'm probably going to start him with Pavel, to give Pavel that tenacity to help Pav out a little bit. Helmer can play down low in the zone, too, a bit for him.

"Now that all depends on Weiss and his situation and how healthy everyone is."

Babcock said he's talked to Weiss a couple of times and has been assured he's healthy after missing 56 games due to a sports hernia. He said Weiss will center the second line.

Will Zetterberg play on the line with Datsyuk and Helm?

"That's a good question," Babcock said. "We'll see on the 19th (at the start of training camp)."

Actually, we won't, because he added: "Z and them won't play together in training camp because I need three teams. Weiss, Z and Pav will be first-line centers on their teams at camp."

Babcock had been using Justin Abdelkader to do the heavy lifting on Datsyuk's line for much of the past two seasons.

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