Michael Rasmussen (ice hockey) explained

Michael Rasmussen
Birth Date:17 April 1999
Birth Place:Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:229
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Detroit Red Wings
Former Teams:Graz99ers
Draft:9th overall
Draft Year:2017
Draft Team:Detroit Red Wings
Career Start:2018

Michael Rasmussen (born April 17, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Rasmussen was drafted ninth overall by the Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and grew up in the neighboring suburb of Surrey.[1]

Playing career

Rasmussen was selected seventh overall by the Tri-City Americans in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.[2] During the 2015–16 season in his rookie season, he recorded 18 goals and 25 assists in 63 games. During the 2016–17 season, he was limited to 50-of-72 games played due to injury.[3] He recorded 32 goals and 23 assists, including a team-best 15 power-play goals, which tied for sixth most in the WHL.

Leading up to the NHL draft, Rasmussen was ranked the No. 5 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.[4] Craig Button of TSN described him as a solid player with size that can score at the net.[5]

On June 23, 2017, Rasmussen was drafted ninth overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[6] On August 5, 2017, the Red Wings signed Rasmussen to a three-year, entry-level contract.[7]

Rasmussen made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on October 4, 2018, during a 3–2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets[8] [9] On October 8, Rasmussen recorded his first career NHL point, assisting on a goal by Tyler Bertuzzi during a 3–2 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks.[10] On October 30, Rasmussen scored his first career NHL goal against Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 5–3 win.[11]

Due to the delayed start to the 2020–21 North American season, Rasmussen was loaned to the Graz99ers of the Austrian Hockey League.[12] He appeared in 18 games in the ICEHL with the 99ers, recording 11 assists and 16 points, before returning to the Red Wings organization.

On July 22, 2021, Rasmussen signed a three-year, $4.38 million contract extension with the Red Wings.[13] He reached double-digits in goals in each of the next three seasons. He set career highs in assists (19) and points (29) in 56 games with the Red Wings during the 2022–23 season. [14]

On February 20, 2024, Rasmussen signed a four-year, $12.8 million contract extension with the Red Wings.[15]

Personal life

His parents are Denise and Paul and he has two older sisters, Jaclyn and Samantha.[16]

International play

Rasmussen represented Canada Black at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded two goals and one assist in five games. Rasmussen represented Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he recorded one goal and three assists in four games.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GGP G A Pts PIM
2014–15Okanagan Hockey AcademyCanadian Sport School Hockey LeagueCSSHL282723503633584
2014–15Penticton VeesBCHL10000
2014–15Tri-City AmericansWHL1000230000
2015–16Tri-City AmericansWHL6318254337
2016–17Tri-City AmericansWHL5032235550
2017–18Tri-City AmericansWHL4731285940141617334
2018–19Detroit Red WingsNHL628101829
2018–19Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL32020
2019–20Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL357152220
2020–21Graz99ersICEHL185111642
2020–21Detroit Red WingsNHL40391226
2020–21Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL72466
2021–22Detroit Red WingsNHL8015122766
2022–23Detroit Red WingsNHL5610192943
2023–24Detroit Red WingsNHL7513203347
NHL totals313 49 70 119 211

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2015Canada BlackU178th521316
2016CanadaIH185th41348
Junior totals 934724

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael Rasmussen's NHL Draft Profile . . June 22, 2017 . June 22, 2017.
  2. News: Tri-City Americans rookie Michael Rasmussen on path to stardom. Yahoo Sports Canada. October 15, 2016.
  3. Web site: Biech. Ryan. Prospect Profile: Michael Rasmussen. NHL.com. Vancouver Canucks. December 10, 2017. June 6, 2017. Rasmussen's year ended early as he suffered a broken wrist in the middle of February that required surgery and thus missed the remainder of the season..
  4. Web site: 2017 Draft: Nolan Patrick of Brandon ranked No. 1. NHL.com. en-us. April 11, 2017.
  5. News: Patrick goes No. 1 in TSN's post-season mock draft. April 10, 2017. TSN. April 11, 2017.
  6. Web site: Red Wings select center Michael Rasmussen with ninth overall pick. Detroit Red Wings. Kyle. Kujawa . June 23, 2017. June 23, 2017.
  7. Web site: Detroit agrees to terms with 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen. Detroit Red Wings. Kyle. Kujawa. August 5, 2017. August 5, 2017.
  8. Web site: Five rookies set to make NHL debut for Wings tonight . NHL.com . Dana . Wakiji . Art . Regner . October 4, 2018 . October 4, 2018.
  9. Web site: Hogg . Dave . Panarin, Blue Jackets defeat Red Wings in overtime . NHL.com . October 5, 2018.
  10. Web site: Kulfan . Ted . Five takeaways from Red Wings' shootout loss to Ducks . The Detroit News . October 9, 2018.
  11. Web site: Wings overcome another lost forward, Blue Jackets rally in win . NHL.com . Dana . Wakiji . October 30, 2018 . October 30, 2018.
  12. Web site: Red Wings loan forward Michael Rasmussen to Austrian team. 2020-10-28. The Detroit News. en-US.
  13. Web site: Red Wings extend Rasmussen for three seasons . . July 22, 2021 . July 22, 2021.
  14. Web site: Red Wings sign Michael Rasmussen to four-year contract extension . NHL.com . February 20, 2024 . February 20, 2024.
  15. Web site: Red Wings' Michael Rasmussen signs 4-year, $12.8M extension . . February 20, 2024 . February 20, 2024.
  16. Web site: Wakiji. Dana. Notes: Wings' Tyler Wright liked Michael Rasmussen on and off the ice. December 10, 2017. June 24, 2017.