AHL: Darren at the Helm

McKeen's Chief Correspondent David Burstyn looks at a loaded Grand Rapids team poised to make some noise in the postseason. Goaltender Jimmy Howard, defensemen Brian Lashoff, Logan Pyett, Jakub Kindl and centers Cory Emmerton, Evan McGrath, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader are featured.

Jimmy Howard (Det), G, Grand Rapids

Time may be running out on Howard who has yet to see much NHL time in his four year, AHL-pro career .. Howard has played nine games over three NHL seasons .. still struggles with consistency, as he tends to wander out of his crease being in questionable position on some goals .. needs to stay centre in his goal, which he does for the most part but can also get caught chasing a play .. extremely athletic, as he is blessed with solid reflexes and quickness .. rebound control can be an issue at times, as he does not control his shots .. big in the net, his butterfly style of play can cover both the top and bottom portion of the net .. Howard may have his best opportunity now that Liv is out of the picture and the goaltending situation in Detroit is not getting younger.

Brian Lashoff (Det), D, Grand Rapids

The youngest player on the team, Lashoff went undrafted and joined the team following the Frontenacs being eliminated from the OHL playoffs .. playing on the first PP unit on one of the top AHL teams is a monumental feat .. his passes are crisp and he shows a healthy confidence with the puck .. decision making is good considering his youthful age .. naturally aggressive and goes out of his way to administer a hit .. has proven the critics wrong thus far for all teams that overlooked his skills.

Logan Pyett (Det), D, Grand Rapids

Signed to a three-year entry level contract in the summer, Pyett is yet another late-round discovery that has blossomed in the Detroit system .. enjoyed a stellar junior career with Regina recording double-digit goals in three of his four seasons with the Pats .. a stocky, tough defender who leans on guys down low to cough up the puck .. he angles and uses his body to defend .. trusted in more offensive situations and has responded with a nice, hard, low slapshot from the point and is methodical as to when to shoot .. a quick, darty skater with explosive first-step quickness .. he gets to loose pucks first and can make a play under pressure .. size is a concern but he has a strong centre of balance and shares a skating style similar to Sidney Crosby in terms of his base .. Pyett is a clever hockey player who continues to thrive no matter what the competition level.

Jakub Kindl (Det), D, Grand Rapids

Kindl has had hot stretches where he has recorded points but he has also gone cold for prolonged periods of time as well .. the former first round draft pick is a natural with the puck in his possession, as he has the ability to slow down the game, however he has not been active in carrying the puck .. has taken a backseat in terms of development, as he is still routinely beaten by players defensively .. looses his man in a multiple of ways, angling off the puckcarrier incorrectly or just getting flat out beaten by speed or size, Kindl manages to do everything wrong defensively .. he has quick feet but tries to over compensate when things go sour, as he has yet to develop the patience in his game away from the puck .. his strength has improved in terms of his shot .. the looming question remains what will he be at the NHL level, as there are many holes in his game at this point.

Cory Emmerton (Det), C, Grand Rapids

Had a brief seven game audition with the Griffins last season before joining them full time this year .. has seen spot duty on the top two lines and offensively has benefitted as a result .. needs to play in a top-six role to be effective .. a fluent skater, with a nice change of direction and good quickness .. at this point, he is very slender and looks rather small on the ice .. he is unable to assert himself so he must rely on his anticipation skills .. he is muscled off the puck, which has forced his decision making to become sharper .. he will need many years of grooming.

Evan McGrath (Det), C, Grand Rapids

McGrath has always been able to pile up the points every where he has played and skating on the same line as former AHL-scoring champ Darren Haydar has helped .. a finesse player with stealth-like finishing skills and passing ability .. he skates well and sees plays unfold allowing him to be in position to make a play or accept a pass .. highly intelligent in the offensive zone but lacks defensive fortitude .. the biggest thing that separates him from being a player is his inability to pay the price to architect a play.

Darren Helm (Det), C, Grand Rapids

Helm is your prototypical two-way forward who thrives in a specific role - that of a checker .. he has understated hand skills and moves the puck up the ice with both power and grace .. he uses his feet to make plays, as he is very agile .. he relies on his quickness and bullish approach to get to open areas of the ice .. he propels his way into the zone by will and determination and simply out works the opposition .. he is an honest player that will never cheat you on effort and he plays bigger than his size .. could do a better job protecting the puck with his frame when skating in the neutral zone .. Helm has been recalled for 16 games this season and will inevitably be a call up for a Detroit team that goes deep in the playoffs .. it is only a matter of time before he replaces Maltby on the checking unit.

Justin Abdelkader (Det), C, Grand Rapids

A winner on the collegiate level, Abdelkader decided to forgo his final year of school to join the Red Wings last season .. the decision was a good one, as he won a Stanley Cup and even though he did not play the required amount of games to have his name engraved on the Cup, he did receive a ring from the organization .. a sizeable forward with a modest skill set .. chippy player that uses his size advantageously along the boards and goes to the net with authority .. good shot, an adept passer but is not a natural finisher nor is he a finesse player .. at times, he tries to do too much but is at his best when he simplifies his game .. a healthy skater, he is not a burner but can keep up with the pace of the league .. Abdelkader has the potential to step in the Detroit lineup sooner than later, as he plays a role much like Helm on a third/fourth line capacity and could replace the services of Kris Draper.