WINGS MAKE ROSTER MOVES, HELM RECALLED
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Monday recalled center Darren Helm and defenseman Xavier Ouellet from the Grand Rapids Griffins and assigned center Luke Glendening to their AHL affiliate.
Helm, 26, joined the Griffins last Tuesday on a conditioning loan, subsequently making appearances in Friday’s 3-2 home-opening loss to the Milwaukee Admirals and Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Harris Bank Center. Helm has appeared in 249 regular season games with Detroit since the 2007-08 season, amassing 83 points (32-51—83) and 54 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound forward has also played in 65 playoff games for the Wings, including 18 games during the team’s 2008 Stanley Cup championship run, producing 16 points (10-6—16) and 18 penalty minutes. Due to various injuries, Helm has only appeared in one NHL game since Apr. 11, 2012.
Ouellet, 20, has posted two points (0-2—2) in five games with Grand Rapids this season. Prior to joining the Griffins, the rookie defenseman was a part of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, tallying 101 points (31-70—101) from 2011-13. Ouellet served as a “black ace” with Grand Rapids for the first three rounds of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Glendening, a 24-year-old native of East Grand Rapids, made his debut with the Wings on Oct. 12, when he became the 133rd Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward has appeared in five games with the Wings, posting six shots on goal and two penalty minutes. After beginning his first pro season last year with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, recording 21 points (14-7—21) in 27 games, Glendening was recalled to Grand Rapids in December and produced 26 points (8-18—26) over 51 regular season contests. A key cog in the Griffins’ run to the Calder Cup, Glendening appeared in all 24 playoff games and tied for third on the team and first among AHL rookies with 16 points (6-10—16).
The Red Wings will battle the San Jose Sharks tonight at 7:30 p.m., when Helm and Ouellet will be available to play.
The Griffins (2-1-1-1) will host the Charlotte Checkers this Friday at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to take on the Chicago Wolves on Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT and the Iowa Wild on Sunday at 6:05 p.m EDT.
Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.