A pair of potential breakout candidates next year for the Detroit Red Wings
By Bob Heyrman
He dominated last season with his junior team, the Tri-City Americans a member of the WHL.
Michael Rasmussen ended his junior career with a bang. He recorded 33 playoff points in just 17 games played. The Detroit Red Wings had seen enough and thought he would benefit more playing in the NHL rather than playing his final year in the Western Hockey League.
The problem I had with Rasmussen in Detroit was head coach Jeff Blashill played the large framed forward primarily on the teams’ fourth line playing with grinding type forwards rather than anyone with solid offensive instincts.
Rasmussen merely averaged 12:05 TOI a night in Detroit last season but played on one of the teams’ power-play units. He scored 4 of his 8 goals on the power-play while owning a shooting percentage of 10.8% on the season. The 19-year-old was unable to make an impact during five on five play but playing sparingly didn’t help. He’s phenomenal working on the boards shielding defenders with his large frame.
It seems Jeff Blashill was reluctant to move Rasmussen up the lineup even when the injuries started to occur. He’s 6’6 and has yet to grow into his frame. At this point, he’s a below average skater, but when Darren Helm along with Anthony Mantha were both sidelined for an extended period of time, I felt there was an opportunity to move Rasmussen up with Dylan Larkin, yet Jeff Blashill decided to go with Justin Abdelkader who went more than 40 games without a goal. It was just another example of the organization favoring a veteran player over a rookie.
With Andreas Athanasiou transitioning into a full-time center along with having Frans Nielsen still rostered and potentially having Joe Veleno in the lineup next year the Wings can afford to keep Rasmussen playing as a winger covering up his lack of speed. Luke Glendening is fantastic in the face-off circle, both Jacob de La Rose and Christoffer Ehn can play down the middle on the fourth line as well, so the team currently has enough centermen.
I feel Michael Rasmussen has the potential to score 20 or more goals next season with the Detroit Red Wings. Now he has a full season under his belt; hopefully, the transition from junior to being a professional is easier next season now that he’s got a years’ experience. I feel he needs to have a strong offseason in the gym becoming much stronger. Next season Rasmussen will be eligible to start in Grand Rapids, this season that wasn’t an option or I suspect that’s where he would have sent the majority of the season. Nevertheless, he’s a breakout candidate for the team next season.