Confirmed with Link: 4 year extension for Michael Rasmussen (3.2 AAV)

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

He’s had a disappointing year but I also don’t really get the extreme hate for him. People say he’s soft but he’s actually not that soft, he’s just bad at using his body positionally, he’s gangly and often seems not super coordinated relative to his peers. But he’s fine as a 4th line to 3rd line level player. He shouldn’t ever be used as anything more than that. He’d also look better if we had any semblance of 5v5 offense, but we are pretty terrible at 5v5.

I don't hate the guy, he's just constantly disappointing.

For a 6'6" 220 lbs player he is absolutely soft, and on a team desperately in need of more sandpaper.

I completely agree about using his body positionally, but that also seems like something he could improve. Work on core and leg strength, spend the offseason working on skating and edgework, spend time at practice doing puck battles like Datsyuk and Zetterberg used to.

I don't expect the guy to turn into some offensive dynamo. Some of that can't be taught if you just don't have it. But improving strength on his skates absolutely can be improved and he hasn't in several years now.

 

[Frk It]

He’s had a disappointing year but I also don’t really get the extreme hate for him. People say he’s soft but he’s actually not that soft, he’s just bad at using his body positionally, he’s gangly and often seems not super coordinated relative to his peers. But he’s fine as a 4th line to 3rd line level player. He shouldn’t ever be used as anything more than that. He’d also look better if we had any semblance of 5v5 offense, but we are pretty terrible at 5v5.

I think it’s more of looking at areas we can upgrade the team.

To me Rasmussen just doesn’t bring that much to the table. He’s not horrible, but he is one of many spots I think we could look at upgrading on.

If the team was good, maybe guys like him wouldn’t be under the microscope as much.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

He’s had a disappointing year but I also don’t really get the extreme hate for him. People say he’s soft but he’s actually not that soft, he’s just bad at using his body positionally, he’s gangly and often seems not super coordinated relative to his peers. But he’s fine as a 4th line to 3rd line level player. He shouldn’t ever be used as anything more than that. He’d also look better if we had any semblance of 5v5 offense, but we are pretty terrible at 5v5.

He is 100% soft. He loses battles all the time and rarely sticks up for himself or his teammates. We watching the same player?

 

[Winger98]

I think it’s more of looking at areas we can upgrade the team.

To me Rasmussen just doesn’t bring that much to the table. He’s not horrible, but he is one of many spots I think we could look at upgrading on.

If the team was good, maybe guys like him wouldn’t be under the microscope as much.

he's vanilla. I think he's shown he can hold down 3C and be a bland defensive center who doesn't hurt you, but it'd be so nice if he could take one of the opportunities he's gotten at wing in the top6 and run with it.

 

[FMichael]

He is 100% soft. He loses battles all the time and rarely sticks up for himself or his teammates. We watching the same player?

Times like this I wish we had a Keith Primeau clone.

 

[Lampedampe]

His ultimate downfall will be his softness for sure. If he bullied guys, we'd have no issues with his production.

It really makes the whole Hughes debacle seem abit silly. Like yeah, you can act tough against a relative midget after you scored a empty netter. But stand up for a teammate, like once? Yeah, no way.

 

[nhlisawesome]

Well all we hear about is 'big guys take longer to develop'. We've seen the brief spells of somewhat passable production, and the odd skilled play but man is it ever inconsistent. He doesn't really bother me to much in the bottom 6 so I'm willing to let his contract play out. Such a disappointment for his draft position though it is too bad.

 

[HisNoodliness]

I think it’s more of looking at areas we can upgrade the team.

To me Rasmussen just doesn’t bring that much to the table. He’s not horrible, but he is one of many spots I think we could look at upgrading on.

If the team was good, maybe guys like him wouldn’t be under the microscope as much.

Yep, he is a fine 3C that survives his minutes without impacting the game too much one way or another. You just can't give him the puck at 5on5 and expect much.

Still though, I really wish he learned how to screen goalies, tip pucks and bury rebounds at the NHL level. I'm fine if he can't produce at 5on5. If he could be a useful net front PP guy, that would be great. Why didn't we pay Holmstrom a bunch of money to spend a summer with Ras?

Or he could be better defensively- great reach, lots of weight, been a two way center for a long time. It should be easy for him to box people out and mug them in the corner. Right now he's fine. He doesn't hurt us. I want him to help us. If he could be an actual shutdown C, that would be great.

Or he can turn into an intimidator. Can't score? Can't skate/think fast enough to shut people down? That's still fine. Just hit people. Become the strongest dude around and make sure everyone knows that if you mess with the Red Wings, you get The Moose! We rely on our young core for what little toughness this team has instead. We need The Moose and we have a deer in the headlights.

And so he hasn't really managed to live up to his potential in any facet of the game, and that sort of sucks.

 

[Pavels Dog]

One would have to "fall" from somewhere in order to rebound. Assmussen is shit and has always been shit, so there is nothing to rebound to.

Bit harsh. 30-40 point pace the last 2 seasons before this one. That's solid for a 4th line type of guy.

 

[13to40]

I don't hate the guy, he's just constantly disappointing.

For a 6'6" 220 lbs player he is absolutely soft, and on a team desperately in need of more sandpaper.

I completely agree about using his body positionally, but that also seems like something he could improve. Work on core and leg strength, spend the offseason working on skating and edgework, spend time at practice doing puck battles like Datsyuk and Zetterberg used to.

I don't expect the guy to turn into some offensive dynamo. Some of that can't be taught if you just don't have it. But improving strength on his skates absolutely can be improved and he hasn't in several years now.

I always assumed he would turn out to be in the Holmstrom position on the PP and would score 5-10 wraparound goals a year with his long reach.

Still think he can be chipping in more offensively than he does. Needs to crash the net more and play with grit, but instead we get to watch a 6’6 friendly giant…

 

[heyfolks]

He is 100% soft. He loses battles all the time and rarely sticks up for himself or his teammates. We watching the same player?

You and I see the exact same player. This guy doesn't win ANY battle. In fact, he embodies the old adage of how do you get him in front of the net? Start a fight in the corner. His only move on the boards is to run his back, stick out his but and send the puck any which way blindly. He finishes very few checks and, when he does, they are softer than a Nyquist check.

Stand up for his teammates?!?! He doesn't even stand up for himself. I am shocked no one has brought up the so called fight against Buffalo. That injury back in 18 is still on his mind. He didn't even make a fist. It was embarrassing to watch. You NEVER win with players like him. I'd rather see A Watson in his spot.

He's horrible. I'd package him and Copp for the stapuft marshmallow man.

 

[sepster]

Bit harsh. 30-40 point pace the last 2 seasons before this one. That's solid for a 4th line type of guy.

I don't give a shit about his pace, I care about what he actually does. And what he does is give up more than he provides.

 

[SirloinUB]

Can you define aggressive? When I watch Rasmussen I see a 6'5" body that plays like Jason Williams, so aggressive is a description I would never consider for him.

Aside from that, I don't think he's that effective defensively and the puck dies on his stick 95% of the time it comes to him.

Incidentally, the second half of the season here is the first time I have heard rumblings from inside the locker room that the organization is just not seeing the development they have been waiting for with him. I don't think he's long for a Red Wings sweater.

He’s reasonably fast, can cycle and consistently one of the team leaders in hits. Im not here to argue he is physically dominant and to the point below, maybe he could be upgraded, but, he does all of that stuff as well or better than 80% of our forwards.

Would I like to see him be more physical? Absolutely. He’s still our most physical forward. Here is the entire list of Red Wings with more hits since 20/21: Moritz Seider.

As for the defensive piece, I disagree. Lalonde gave Ras lots of defensive minutes the two previous years and he the Red Wings had a 51% goal share with him on the ice at 5on5. He’s not about to win a selkie but he has been reliable.

I think it’s more of looking at areas we can upgrade the team.

To me Rasmussen just doesn’t bring that much to the table. He’s not horrible, but he is one of many spots I think we could look at upgrading on.

If the team was good, maybe guys like him wouldn’t be under the microscope as much.

This year that’s a fair take. It’s been a tough season for Rasmussen.

I’d like to point out, that the last 3 years he’s been a 30 - 35 point player scoring 15 goals every 82 games played.

His acceleration is average but he is actually in the 91% percentile for top skating speed and 78% for bursts above 20 mph. He’s sneaky quick, especially for his size.

15ish goals, fast, our most physical forward, positive goal share, makes for a solid 3rd liner. He’s 26 so reasonably young and actually just entering his prime years in terms of physical strength and training.

Shit, even during a down year he is 5th (6th in goals/game) on the team in goals.

This team needs upgrades but there are bigger issues than Rasmussen, imo.

This team needs to add speed, physicality, forechecking and offence but Motte, Fischer, Veleno, Tarasenko, Smith, and Berggren are all guys I’ve viewed as less effective in those regards. Thankfully 2 are gone and hopefully 2 more will be gone this summer (or reduced role).

Hell, I’d argue upgrading Kane might be a bigger priority for me. Is Kane the better player? Duh. But landing someone like Marner, Barzal, Pettersson etc to replace Kane would be more impactful than replacing Rasmussen with Kyle Sherwood.

Of course you could argue Marner et al. Is a pipedream and replacing Rasmussen is more practical. I’d counter we should try to land someone like Sherwood while keeping Rasmussen.

 

[Frk It]

This year that’s a fair take. It’s been a tough season for Rasmussen.

I’d like to point out, that the last 3 years he’s been a 30 - 35 point player scoring 15 goals every 82 games played.

His acceleration is average but he is actually in the 91% percentile for top skating speed and 78% for bursts above 20 mph. He’s sneaky quick, especially for his size.

15ish goals, fast, one of our most physical forwards, positive goal share, is a solid 3rd liner. He’s 26 so reasonably young and actually just entering his prime years in terms of strength and training.

Shit, even during a down year he is 5th (6th in goals/game) on the team in goals.

This team needs upgrades but there are bigger issues than Rasmussen, imo.

This team needs to add speed, physicality, forechecking and offence but Motte, Fischer, Veleno, Tarasenko, Smith, and Berggren are all guys I’ve viewed as less effective in those regards. Thankfully 2 are gone and hopefully 2 more will be gone this summer (or reduced role).

Hell, I’d argue upgrading Kane might be a bigger priority for me. Is Kane the better player? Duh. But landing someone like Marner, Barzal, Pettersson etc to replace Kane would be more impactful than replacing Rasmussen with Kyle Sherwood.

Of course you could argue Marner et al. Is a pipedream and replacing Rasmussen is more practical. I’d counter we should try to land someone like Sherwood while keeping Rasmussen.

Yeah and it's why I am not pounding the table to get rid of Rasmsusen, it is moreso just the lack of a clear role for me. I feel like the coaching staff doesn't really know what to do with him either, which is why he has only played like 13 min a game this year.

I mean it would be nice to upgrade Kane, but at least Kane fills a very specific role, even if it is as a deteriorated version of what he used to be. Still a great puck possession guy who can set guys up and help run your power play. It is very obvious what he brings to your team.

I am with you though in that honestly the biggest fish out of water guy right now is probably Berggren. I would probably move him out before Rasmussen.