from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

The Detroit Red Wings had quantity on their side at the 2017 entry draft, making 11 selections over seven rounds.

As for quality, the selections yielded one of the top defense prospects in the organization and a big forward who could develop into a net-front goalscorer....

F Michael Rasmussen
Drafted: Ninth.

Post draft: Wrapped up his junior career by posting 33 points in 14 playoff games with Tri-City in the spring of 2018.

Wingspan: Made the team out of training camp in the fall of 2018. If the Wings had not kept him in Detroit, they would have had to send him back to Tri-City because Rasmussen had year left of junior eligibility. Had a good first half with six goals among 13 points the first 41 games. Was able to use his 6-foot-6 body to go to the net even as he adjusted to playing against men instead of fellow teenagers.

Rasmussen missed most of January because of a hamstring injury and spent three games with Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint, scoring twice. Had a hard time during the second half, struggling to establish himself as a scoring threat in front of the net or anywhere else. Had just five points the last 21 games, and was injured again the last two weeks of the season.

Rasmussen, 20, needs to come to camp ready to compete for a job or he’ll start the season in Grand Rapids. The latter scenario probably would be best for him, as he could play in a go-to role and regain confidence.

Assessment: Has potential to be a net-front force.

read on for more players including defenseman Gustav Lindstrom who St. James says looks promising...