Avalanche forward Darren Helm enters COVID protocol

The Colorado Avalanche had both their games this week postponed already, but that doesn’t mean the COVID testing has slowed down. Darren Helm is the latest to enter the protocol, where he’ll join Mikko Rantanen, Logan O’Connor and Pavel Francouz. Nazem Kadri joined the team at practice Tuesday after exiting the protocol.

Helm, 34, has played in 27 games for the Avalanche this season after signing a one-year, $1M contract in the offseason. The veteran forward has scored four goals and six points in those games while averaging fewer than 12 minutes a night. Still, when you’re already down several players due to COVID absences, quality depth is hard to come by.

The Avalanche are set to take on the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 2, a game that Helm would likely miss if he’s forced out with a positive test result. If he is showing any symptoms he’ll be held out for a minimum of 10 days. If asymptomatic, two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart could get him out of the protocol early.