Abel to Yzerman
Michael Rasmussen Next Season
by Paul on 05/20/22 at 06:44 PM ET
Comments (4)
from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,
What Does His Detroit Future Hold?
Rasmussen is among the Detroit players who made the most progress this season. After his slow start, he started to grown more comfortable in his role as third line center. Over the course of the season, he became more physical. a better defensive forward and ultimately an improved scorer.
“I think (the season) was positive overall,” Rasmussen said. “I took a lot of strides in the right direction, got better at some stuff I needed to get better at. Just gained more experience. Individually it was good for me.”
The Red Wings would like to keep him at center, but haven’t ruled out playing him on wing. Rasmussen said he has no preference for wing or center. The expectation is still that he could become a valuable net-front presence on the power play.
But if he stays at No. 3 center and contributes 16-20 goals and is difficult to play against the Red Wings would be satisfied. By the end of the year, Rasmussen was playing a Jordan Staal-style game. In the last month of his season, when he was playing his best hockey, it was fair to wonder whether he might be able to be a second line winger or even a middle six forward who slides between lines depending upon the competition or situation.
With a new coach coming aboard, Rasmussen has a blank slate to expand his opportunity.
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Comments
I’m still feeling optimistic about Ras long-term. He’s still super-young and starting to figure out how to use his size to his advantage. And he’s always had good hands.
Posted by RyanVM on 05/21/22 at 10:52 AM ET
How about a third line of Sundqvist-Ras-Soderblom?
Posted by ChillDistiller from Michigan
That’ll never work. The Wings need a third line that has some size to it. 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids, MI on 05/21/22 at 10:59 AM ET
I know most look at Ras’s draft position and generally consider it a failure if can’t be in the top 6, net 25-30 goals and help on the power play. But if he is a solid contributor on the 3rd line, kills penalties, is stout defensively, chips in some offense and has the ability to play up and down the lineup for 10 years, the pick turns out just fine, in my book. Here’s hoping last season acts as springboard to a long and prosperous career.
Now to get Zadina to raise his game to the next level!
Posted by evileye on 05/23/22 at 09:35 AM ET
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Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com
How about a third line of Sundqvist-Ras-Soderblom?
Posted by ChillDistiller from Michigan on 05/21/22 at 09:58 AM ET