The Athletic’s Craig Custance posted a notebook-form article from the media availabilities held after the “Stars and Stripes Showdown,” and he noted this from Jeff Blashill regarding Michael Rasmussen:
One last note on Zetterberg and Plan B for the Red Wings: Michael Rasmussen, Detroit’s first-round pick in 2017, is expected to get a long look in training camp and, barring a disaster, should make the team.
He was drafted as a center, although the expectation is that he’ll ease in to the NHL on the wing. That said, Blashill didn’t rule him out as a center option for the Red Wings minus Zetterberg.
“I certainly wouldn’t say I wouldn’t consider him. That’s not the case at all,” Blashill said.
He agreed that it’s easier to break into the NHL on the wing, but the bigger reason Blashill likes Rasmussen as a winger is his ability to play in front of the net. You could tell that Blashill was eager to get the 6-foot-6 Rasmussen out there.
“He might end up being a winger in the National Hockey League,” Blashill said.
