 Since turning professional, Helminen has played for the Charlotte Checkers in the ECHL and the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL), before signing with JYP Jyväskylä in the Finnish SM-liiga in 2007.Helminen signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 3, 2008.He was then assigned to the Hurricanes' affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the AHL.