The Athletic’s Craig Custance has penned a list of the top 20 Red Wings prospects. Let’s start at the top:
1. C Michael Rasmussen, Tri-City – Rasmussen, selected with the No. 9 overall pick, is turning in another productive season in the WHL. He has 25 goals and 50 points in 41 games, once again producing heavily on the power play where he has scored 14 of his 25 goals. Dan Cleary, who shares Red Wings player development duties with Shawn Horcoff, got in a viewing in of Rasmussen a few weeks ago and left feeling good about the big center. “When I saw him the first game, he was flying,” Cleary told The Athletic. “The best I’ve seen him skate. He was skating excellent, he was on the forecheck, in the middle of the ice he was backing defensemen off. He has such good poise and patience and makes plays.” Rasmussen had a strong training camp and the smart bet is that he makes the Red Wings out of camp next year if he repeats that performance. Detroit wants to get him an NHL look, likely on the wing as he breaks into the league. What Rasmussen needs to work on is his quickness and explosiveness to create space between him and defenders, and the Red Wings have talked to him about having a more shoot-first mentality. There were more dynamic players available who fit the Red Wings’ need for high-end talent better than Rasmussen, but he’s still on track to be an important part of Detroit’s youth movement.
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