The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a game-day notebook article in which he discusses Michael Rasmussen’s promotion from the taxi squad to the Red Wings’ roster due to Robby Fabbri and Adam Erne’s absences:
“It was good to get back in the lineup and play a game with the guys,” Rasmussen said a Zoom session Tuesday with media. “It’s been a good experience so far with the taxi squad. It’s good to be around the guys and work on your game and skate and get some work in the gym, too. I’m just trying to stay be ready and be ready to play when you’re called upon.”
The taxi squad consists of four to six players — the Wings are carrying six — and is something new this season, with teams needing the extra bodies while playing amid a pandemic.
The Wings’ taxi squad is skating on its own in the morning, and several or more players will join in, typically, to skate with the Wings’ main team during their practice later in the morning.They’ll end the day with work in the weight room.
But Rasmussen has been waiting for that opportunity to get into the lineup, and it finally came — on quick notice — Monday.
“Not a lot of time to think about it,” Rasmussen said, talking about how the day went. “I got up and I got a text I was in (the lineup).. I just got mentally ready and had some food and headed to the rink. It was good to have an early game (noon start) so I didn’t think about it much and just went about my job.”
