NHL.com’s Brian Compton penned a now-that-they’re-eliminated article about the Red Wings, discussing “what went wrong” and offering reasons for optimism:
Reasons for optimism
Help is on the way: They used the No. 9 pick at the 2017 NHL Draft to select forward Michael Rasmussen, their first top-10 selection since 1991 (Martin Lapointe). Rasmussen, 18, had 59 points (31 goals, 28 assists) in 47 games for Tri-City of the Western Hockey League this season. He could compete for a job with the Red Wings at training camp in September.
Stockpiling picks: Detroit will be busy at the 2018 NHL Draft, with eight picks in the first four rounds. They added a second first-round pick when they traded forward Tomas Tatar to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 26.
Bertuzzi brings hope: He may have two goals in 40 games, but Tyler Bertuzzi, a second-round pick (No. 58) in 2013, is showing signs of being a top-six forward at the NHL level. He’s been playing on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist this month and has a Red Wings best seven points (all assists) in 12 games since Feb. 28, and has drawn a team-high six penalties while being assessed two penalty minutes. Bertuzzi, 23, was most valuable player of the Calder Cup Playoffs last season, when he had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 19 games for Grand Rapids.
WHL highlights look like they a being played in slow motion replay.
I Hope Mr. Rasmussen is bored and thinks 10 steps ahead already, otherwise…..size needs to be good enough for him to start.
Grab a gear or get Griffined.