GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday assigned center Michael Rasmussen to the Grand Rapids Griffins for conditioning.
The ninth overall selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Rasmussen has tallied 13 points (6-7—13) and 19 penalty minutes in 41 games during his rookie campaign with the Red Wings. The 19-year-old made his NHL debut on Oct. 4 vs. Columbus, registered his first point on an assist on Oct. 8 at Anaheim and netted his first goal on Oct. 30 at Columbus. Rasmussen’s three power play goals tie for second on the team and sixth among NHL rookies. He has not played since Jan. 4 vs. Nashville due to injury.
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-6, 221-pound center logged 161 games with the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans from 2014-18, recording 157 points (81-76—157), a plus-eight rating and 129 PIM. During the 2017-18 season, he ranked second on the team in goals (31) and fourth in points (59) in 47 appearances. Rasmussen helped the Americans reach the 2018 conference finals, finishing as one of the league’s playoff leaders with 33 points (2nd), 16 goals (T2nd), 17 assists (T5th) and seven power play goals (T1st).
A native of Surrey, British Columbia, Rasmussen represented Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and Canada Black at the 2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Following the all-star break, the Central Division-leading Griffins are on the road at the Texas Stars tomorrow at 8 p.m. EST.
Rasmussen last played on January 4th and has been sidelined since with a hamstring injury. The conditioning stint can last up to three games before the team would have to apply for an extension and/or have to deal with any complaints about a conditioning stint being used to keep him away from his juniors team.
