Ken Holland explained the rationale behind the call-up to MacLed: "We need energy." The team is about to enter a stretch in which they will play three games in four nights and this follows a Western Canada road trip. - Matt Saler
The Macomb Daily's Bruce MacLeod reports that the Red Wings have sent forward Darren McCarty down to their AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in order to clear up roster space fo
r young gun call-up Darren Helm. Helm has already arrived in Detroit and took part in the morning skate. He'll begin his second stint with the team this season tonight against Montreal. McCarty will play tonight in Grand Rapids against the Manchester Monarchs. McCarty has one goal and 25 penalty minutes (all fighting majors) through 13 games. He was waived last week by the Wings, ostensibly to allow for quick movement in case of a sudden need to call up goalie Jimmy Howard. He was otherwise expected to stay with the team, but the recent injury to Tomas Holmstrom (back) evidently caused the front office to rethink that strategy.
With Holmstrom out at least another weel and Dan Cleary still getting back into shape after sitting out with an eye infection, a need has developed for a player who can contribute more than McCarty can at this stage in his career. Despite the presence of the more promising offensive talent Ville Leino in GR, the team has opted for Helm to be that guy.
Helm has 5 goals and 18 points through 16 games with Grand Rapids this season and has taken just two penalties. He showed himself to be a quite capable NHL player during the Wings' Cup run and would have been a lock for the team had the squad not been so deep.
According to MacLeod, he skated with Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula on the third line today. If that line translates to the game tonight, his skating ability and strength along the boards will make it just a bit more dangerous.
