Red Wings Daily: Are Fans Pulling More for Helm or Holland?

There’s a number of former Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs and two are facing each other in the Western Conference Final. Albeit in different capacities.

But in a series that’s already had a little bit of everything in just two games, what’s another storyline? Between 8-6 games, sons scoring goals against fathers coaching on the other side, and shutting out arguably the best scoring duo in the game right now, the Western Conference Finals have been a blast for hockey fans to watch.

There’s one other angle that involves rooting interests for Red Wings fans.

Former Red Wings Ken Holland and Darren Helm On Opposite Sides

Former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland now runs the Edmonton Oilers, and faces far more media scrutiny than he ever did in Detroit. But Holland survived a tough stretch through January, and the Oilers stand just four games from the Stanley Cup Final.

On the other side is the guy he drafted, Darren Helm. Once the recipient of a very nice five-year, $19.25M deal from Holland himself, Helm’s production never lived up to the deal. After Steve Yzerman let him walk last offseason, he signed a one-year deal with Colorado.

And wouldn’t you know it, he’s made good on that inexpensive deal.

DARREN HELM SENDS THE AVALANCHE TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL‼️ pic.twitter.com/tr6AQCC28Q

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 28, 2022

Where it’s interesting is how Detroit fans view this. On one side, you have fans who love Darren Helm but despise the Avs due to the late 90’s rivalry. On the other, the majority, if not all, Red Wings fans pin Detroit’s current woes on Holland whose subpar drafts and poor cap management plunged the Red Wings into rebuild hell.

Regardless of where fans stand, it’s an interesting storyline for sure. Helm, who many thought was done, has a chance to use his role player status to win another Cup. Holland, who was all but pushed out by fans once Yzerman returned, has a chance to justify his work in Detroit.

In the meantime, fans will welcome the day when they’re simply rooting for their Red Wings in the playoffs.

Darren Helm doesn't know the bounds of time.

Darren Helm is Forever. https://t.co/2e6WG2ehSx

— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) May 28, 2022

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