The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with forward Darren Helm on a four-year contract. In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Helm, 25, was originally a fifth-round selection (132nd overall) of the Red Wings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 68 games for the Wings in 2011-12, finishing the season with nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points.
"Darren is an important part of our team and we're very happy that we've reached an agreement," said Wings GM Ken Holland. "He's one of the fastest skaters in the game and we love the physical element that he brings. He's an outstanding penalty killer and the ideal third line center for us behind Pavel (Datsyuk) and Henrik (Zetterberg). We really missed him when he was out of the lineup in March and April."
Helm is entering his fourth full season with the team. He played in just 16 regular season games for the Red Wings from 2007-09, but appeared in 41 postseason games during that same span and was an important part of Detroit's 2008 Stanley Cup championship run and its return to the Stanley Cup Final in 2009.
Helm's career numbers include 248 games played, 83 points (32 goals, 51 assists) and 52 penalty minutes.
