The Daily: Helm GWG Causes Mixed Feelings in Detroit; Gaudreau to Islanders?

Long-time Detroit Red Wings fans don’t know what to think about the Darren Helm dramatic goal that put the Colorado Avalanche into the Western Conference Final Friday night.

On one hand, they want to be happy for Helm. He played 744 games for the Red Wings. The speedy Helm was a member of the Red Wings’ 2008 Stanley Cup team. Fans respected the energy he brought to every game. It’s not like he wanted to leave Detroit. He just wasn’t part of Detroit’s plans anymore. Fans gave him a nice ovation when he came back this past season.

But the Red Wings-Avalanche rivalry burns deep into older Detroit fans. Did Helm’s big goal have to help Detroit’s most hated rival?

Helm is and always will be a traitor to me.

Good for him and all, but damn. I hate the Avalanche so much.

— Golden Knights Watch (@VGK_Watch) May 28, 2022

That about sums it up, although many fans did express genuine warmth for a player who served the Red Wings well.

In case you missed the goal, Helm scored on a slap shot with under six seconds left in regulation to give the Avalanche a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues. It was his first goal of the postseason.That advances them to the Western Conference Final to play the Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers.

Darren Helm beats the buzzer and sends the @Avalanche to the Western Conference Final!!! 🥳 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/P6z9sAB2Kn

— NHL (@NHL) May 28, 2022

In Case You Missed It

Bob Duff writes that Jiri Hudler, now an analyst for Czech television, has fond memories of playing for the Red Wings.

Calder Trophy finalist Moritz Seider’s success and future is discussed in Detroit Hockey Now’s series reviewing the seasons of each Detroit player.

At first, Jakub Vrana wasn’t all that thrilled to play for the Detroit Red Wings. But his opinion has changed.

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Off-Season Maneuvering

Are the New York Islanders the favorite to land Calgary Flames Johnny Gaudreau if he hits unrestricted free agency on July 13? Also, how hard should the Pittsburgh Penguins work to retain 35-year-old defenseman Kris Letang. He also becomes a UFA next month.

Hockey Now Network

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Florida: It was wasn’t goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s fault that the Florida Panthers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs. He had a bounce-back season.

San Jose: Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reported that San Jose Sharks player Jonah Gadjovich, according to his agent, was not involved in the 2018 World Juniors sexual assault scandal.  Rick Westhead of TSN reported that a woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by eight CHL players, including members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors team, had dropped her lawsuit and reached a settlement with Hockey Canada and the CHL.

Vegas: If you are a Vegas Golden Knights fan, whose jersey do you buy? Which Vegas players are safe bets to be around for a while.