Darren Helm

It was just one week ago that the Wings fell short to the Stars at their home opener on Tuesday, January 22nd. The Wings are looking for a second chance to prove themselves against the Stars and take 2 points tonight, which, speaking from a bruised Wngs fan, is much needed after that Chicago game. Catch the game tonight at 7:30pm.

Detroit finally made a move of note this offseason by securing speedster Darren Helm till 2016. Helm signed a 4-year $8.5 Million contract, sources say, which gives him an average cap hit of $2.125 Million/year. This is great news, as Helm is one of the best energy players on the team--something the Wings could've used much more of during the playoffs.

Helm's season was interrupted last year by injuries, including a sliced tendon in the series against Nashville that sidelined him for the rest of the year. Surgery on the injured arm was successful, however, and Darren is expected to be ready for training camp and should be back to his old self in no time.

Red Wings fans are still upset at the way in which the historic 2011-2012 season came to a close. How can a team with one of the leading goaltenders and the current NHL record for consecutive home victories go 4-4-2 in their last 10 AND lose home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs?

The team took quite a hit after going through a series of momentum changing injuries to stars like Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Jimmy Howard and Nicklas Lidstrom. Some would even say that Howard hasn't been the same since the injury. That slump in the season wasn't a surprise.

It also didn't help that the Wings couldn't capitalize on some of their late season opportunities which includes them falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus, and then losing at home to Nashville, New Jersey and Chicago. The loss in Columbus just emphasizes the team's biggest setback of the season. The Wing's finished with a 17-21-3 record when playing away from the Joe.

There are three games left and the Detroit Red Wings can do themselves a huge favour. They control their own destiny for fourth place if they finish 3-0. In the first round, they'd play a Central Division rival, Nashville or Chicago. Finishing anything other than 3-0 leaves far too much guess work as to who else they might play, especially if they finish sixth (one point separates fourth through sixth).

This is definitely unfamiliar territory for Red Wings fans, who might find this season unacceptable; even with all the injuries, and even considering the team has made the playoffs 21 years in a row. There is always talk about whether finishing in a higher seed&nbs...