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Colorado Avalanche News
Helm just left the ice, it does not appear he is close to returning.

It has been a frustrating year for Helm who was only able to play in one game last season because of a back injury. He is now dealing with a groin injury along with the lingering back issue. Helm would be a welcomed sight in the Red Wings lineup, but at this time there is no timetable for his return.

Darren Helm
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Nathan MacKinnon to a three-year, entry-level contract.

MacKinnon, only 17, will report to Avs training camp and is a favourite to make the roster under his former QMJHL coach, Patrick Roy. Keeper leagues should jump all over the talented forward but as we've seen in recent seasons, overdrafting rookies in yearly leagues is unlikely to pay off.

Nathan MacKinnon
Center Darren Helm (back) didn't practice with the team Saturday but has been skating on his own.

Said coach Mike Babcock: “I just saw all of the MRIs and all of that, and they were explaining it all to me, and it sounds like things are going in a positive direction for him. But, we’ve been hearing that for a long time. So when he starts practicing every day and has no side-effects, we’ll know something good’s happened.”

Darren Helm
Babcock said Helm had a setback. They were hoping he'd play Wednesday but now that's a "pipe dream" he said.

It looks like Helm won't be returning for a lengthy period of time. Every time he gets close, he has suffered a setback this season. The 26-year-old's back just will not cooperate the way he would like.

Darren Helm
Looking for a way to spark his team's sluggish offense, coach Todd McLellan turned defenseman Brent Burns into a forward Tuesday night in his first game back since suffering a leg injury more than two weeks ago. Burns scored a goal.

He began the game on a third line with Scott Gomez and James Sheppard. After scoring McLellan gave Burns regular shifts on a line with Joe Thornton and Logan Couture as well as power play time on the blue line.

Brent Burns
McLellan expects #SJSharks Burns to get clearance to play tonight vs. STL - and he'll be on 3rd line w/23 and 15 plus power play time on D.

Yes you read that right, the Sharks are experimenting playing Burns at forward. This will certainly help Burns' fantasy value as he will likely get more scoring chances playing forward and he will still be able to be used as a defenceman. However he as had a hard time staying healthy so he is always an injury risk.

Brent Burns
Burns out at least the next two games, but McLellan does not rule out Havlat or Wingels for tomorrow against Colorado. #sjsharks

The often injured Burns left Saturday's game after only playing 2:07 and did not return. The injury is a lower-body injury and it is not known how much time he will miss. We do know he will not be in the lineup in the Sharks next two games. Burns has zero points and is a -5 in 6 games this season.

Brent Burns