Michael Rasmussen is running out of room in Detroit.
The Red Wings have kept waiting for the big center to turn his size into a real weapon, but the production still hasn’t matched the frame. Drafted by Detroit in 2017, Rasmussen was supposed to grow into a strong net-front presence who could bully defenders and make life miserable around the crease. Instead, his NHL career has been marked more by flashes than by sustained impact.
Through 454 career NHL games, Rasmussen has shown that upside in bursts. Most of the time, though, he has been underwhelming. Last season was the low point: six goals and 14 points in 64 games, while averaging 12:39 of ice time.
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan still sees a path forward, and he believes a change of scenery in mindset and approach can help.
"He's a big man and can hold on to pucks well, and he can play heavy along the boards," said McLellan in an interview with The Hockey News. "That's what we're asking everyone to do."
That’s the job description. The problem is finishing it. Rasmussen can keep the puck alive, but Detroit needs more than possession work from a player who has been in the league long enough to know what he is.
He stands 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, yet he rarely plays like someone built to overpower opponents. He’s not a physical force, he hasn’t been a reliable source of offense, and he isn’t exactly shutting people down at the other end, either.
What he does offer is penalty-killing value. When the Wings are short-handed, he can clear the puck cleanly and handle that role without much fuss.
McLellan still sounds like a coach trying to unlock something rather than give up on it.
"He's got a fresh start to a new season; he's smart enough and mature enough to understand that," McLellan said. "He's just gotta capture it and stay confident, and that comes through in his play."
Detroit would love for Rasmussen to rebound and settle into a useful fourth-line role. But the patience question is getting louder. With nearly 500 career games behind him, how much more runway does he really need?
And the roster picture doesn’t make it easier. The early look at the opening night lineup suggests there are real chances for young players to grab jobs. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Nate Danielson all appear set to be in the mix.
That creates pressure once Dylan Larkin returns from injury. At some point, someone gets squeezed out.
Danielson can be sent down without waivers, so that’s the easiest move. But if he plays well, and if Brandsegg-Nygard earns his spot while Rasmussen continues to struggle, Detroit will have a decision to make.
Sooner or later, the math on this lineup stops working.
In Other News...
Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks Put Early Focus On Red Wings Camp
With camp opening, the Red Wings have one of their most important young defensemen in the building while his next contract remains a central talking point. Simon Edvinsson is taking part in training camp, and for now Detroit is getting the benefit of having him around as the team sorts through what comes next for a player who has become a key part of the blue-line picture.
The bigger issue is the shape of the deal itself, with discussions continuing and the stakes pointing well beyond a short-term solution. A long-term contract would carry major financial weight for Detroit, and the sides are still working through a path that reflects Edvinssons role and future value without making the process any simpler for a team trying to settle its roster early. [Read more 🡒]
Larkins Return Puts One Red Wings Decision Back In Focus
Dylan Larkin was back on the ice with the Red Wings at practice after missing the start of training camp, a welcome sight for a team trying to get its footing early in the season. His absence had been tied to an upper-body injury suffered during an off-ice workout, and Detroit has been careful not to rush the process while it sorts through the rest of camp.
Larkins return also pushes one lingering organizational question back into view. Detroit had previously removed him as captain, but the club has said he could still remain with the team for the entire season, leaving his status as one of the more notable unresolved decisions around the roster as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkins Preseason Status Suddenly Matters Even More For Detroit
The Red Wings' preseason picture got a little clearer and a little more complicated at the same time. Buffalos defensive depth took a hit when Mattias Samuelsson went down with a lower-body injury and will be out on a week-to-week basis, while Olen Zellweger also landed in concussion protocol after an upper-body injury. For Detroit, the bigger immediate note came from head coach Todd McLellan, who said Dylan Larkin is progressing in his recovery and is inching closer to a return.
That matters because Larkins preseason timetable has become one of the more closely watched storylines in camp, especially with Detroit trying to sort out its lineup and get its top center back into game shape. McLellan indicated Larkin could be available for the preseason finale against Columbus, which would give the Red Wings one more chance to see him before opening night preparations really tighten up. [Read more 🡒]