Rasmussen looking to make big impact with Red Wings

DETROIT --Michael Rasmussen has a great chance to make the Canada roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, but there's someplace else he'd rather be.
Specifically, playing center for the Detroit Red Wings in his NHL rookie season, a dream that began when he was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft after three seasons with Tri-City of the Western Hockey League.

"I definitely have high expectations for myself," Rasmussen, 19, said at Red Wings development camp in June. "I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to come here, play well and help the team win."
The Red Wings struggled offensively last season, especially on the power play (17.5 percent, 24th in the NHL), and they are looking to Rasmussen to help. At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, his physical ability overmatched the teenagers defending him in junior hockey. Though it won't be nearly as easy against NHL defensemen, Detroit expects him to add muscle.
"We're excited and our fans should be excited," Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff said. "We can't expect a 19-year-old to dominate the League, but as long as we keep him moving in the right direction we could have a good player here."
Though Rasmussen was limited to 47 games with Tri-City last season because of a wrist injury, he had 59 points (31 goals, 28 assists). He was even better in the playoffs, with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 14 games to help Tri-City advance to the WHL semifinals.

The Red Wings got a possible glimpse into their future during the final scrimmage of development camp when Rasmussen deflected a point shot for a goal and then assisted forward Filip Zadina, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft, on the winning goal in overtime.
Rasmussen's hand-eye coordination, combined with his size, makes him more dangerous around the net.
"Once I got old enough that we had shots from the point, I started working on tipping them in front," he said. "You don't try to aim it, just change the direction."
Rasmussen also enjoyed playing with Zadina.
"[He] is obviously highly skilled," Rasmussen said. "He can really shoot and he gets himself into good positions. It is going to be fun."
Zadina was equally excited playing alongside Rasmussen.
"He's an unbelievable player," Zadina said. "He's strong and knows how to pass the puck. We play well together."