Darren Helm has “mixed emotions” about joining Avalanche after 14 years with Red Wings

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Avalanche free-agent summation Darren Helm won the Stanley Cup arsenic an NHL rookie successful 2008. The speedy guardant played conscionable 7 regular-season games for the Detroit Red Wings successful 2007-08, but 18 of 22 successful the playoffs and each six successful the Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Helm hoisted the Cup astatine property 21, and aft 14 seasons with the Red Wings, helium hopes to hoist it again adjacent summertime astatine property 35.

“My archetypal year, it was a large experience. Loved each portion of it,” Helm said Wednesday connected a Zoom telephone with reporters. “I deliberation we missed different accidental successful ’09 and past it’s been a acold drought for the past (12) years. Really looking guardant to (being) portion of this team.”

Helm signed a one-year declaration worthy $1 cardinal past Thursday with the Avs, a time aft escaped bureau began. He’ll apt measurement successful connected the 4th enactment and service arsenic a superior punishment killer, efficaciously replacing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, 36, who signed a two-year, $2 cardinal woody with the Tampa Bay Lightning past week.

Helm’s 744 vocation regular-season games with Detroit fertile 17th-most for the Original Six franchise.

“Mixed emotions. Been present for a agelong time,” Helm said astir leaving Detroit — apt for conscionable 1 year. “I’ve raised a household here. I’m definite this volition beryllium location for my household erstwhile we’re done. (But) erstwhile I heard the quality that everything had happened (with Colorado), I was highly excited. Just truly looking guardant to playing with the Avs and being connected a contending team.”

Helm is present the Avalanche’s oldest subordinate astatine property 34. He besides leads the nine successful playoff acquisition (82 games).

“Darren is simply a high-energy, competitory subordinate who brings seasoned enactment to our team,” Avalanche wide manager Joe Sakic said successful a connection past week. “He helps our extent up front, is bully connected faceoffs and is an effectual punishment killer. Darren is simply a Stanley Cup champion who volition beryllium a large summation to our dressing room.”

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