Red Wings sign Darren Helm to two-year deal

The Detroit Red Wings announced Wednesday the signing of forward Darren Helm to a two-year contract.

Helm, who broke in with the Red Wings during their 2008 Stanley Cup playoff run, played 75 games with Detroit last season, scoring 11 goals and tallying 13 assists.  

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Red Wings, but The Sports Network in Canada reported Helm will earn $825,000 in 2010-11 and $1,000,000 in 2011-12.

Helm, 23, was originally a fifth round pick (132nd overall) of the Red Wings in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft.  Last season, he led the Wings in shorthanded goals with three and was number one among Detroit forwards in hits with 188.

A mainstay in the Red Wings’ post-season runs over the past three years, Helm has 53 career Stanley Cup Playoff games on his resume, more than half of his NHL regular season total of 98 games.