Half a PPG after 5 years in the ohl is UNDERWHELMING lol. That is not good production at all.
Also, beating up on 16 year olds? Rasmussen's best season in juniors, was his third where he put up a whopping 1.25 PPG LMAO the only time he beat up on anyone (as an oversized 6'6 third year WHL player) was in the playoffs, where he has a single amazing run. That is absolutely AWFUL production for a 6'6 third year player.
Here are similar producing players in their age range in the AHL:
Veleno:
Tobias Bjornfort, a D prospect younger than him putting up better PPG
Oliver Wahlstrom (who's been considered on a terrible trend since being drafted) put up a better PPG than Veleno at the same age
Rasmus Sandin, another D prospect in his first year putting better PPG than Veleno
Kotkaniemi, same age as Veleno, putting up twice the production in the AHL
Don't even get me started on Rasmussen who for your information played in the NHL FIRST then was sent down to the AHL where he produced underwhelimg number as a genetic freak. Please stop over valuing your propects sir.
Here are exerpts on both players from the Athletic: CHECK OUT THE BOLD
2. Joe Veleno, C, 20 (Grand Rapids Griffins)
Veleno’s world juniors performance was weird to watch because he didn’t play the same style or role that he did in junior. Though Veleno isn’t shy, he was much more of a sparkplug than I expected him to be — and I’m not just talking about the headbutt; he wasn’t leaving anything out there and finished all of his checks. He was also regularly among Canada’s leaders in ice time, called upon to play big minutes and contribute. Though he wasn’t among the best players in the tournament, Veleno had an impact throughout and it was likely a much-needed reprieve from an up-and-down rookie campaign in the AHL.
“We all love him. He does all the little things and he’s just a good guy. He’s a guy that people gravitate towards,” said Team Canada forward Akil Thomas.
I’ve long been a big proponent of Veleno’s game and upside, ranking him in my top 15 throughout the 2018 draft year. He’s a north-south skater who can make plays off the rush, create partial breaks for himself, lose a defender with a stop-up and contribute on the power play as a pass-first option with above-average finishing touch (though I wouldn’t say he’s a natural scorer). He’s also a responsible off-puck player who wins battles, tracks the play well, swings low defensively and rarely cheats, even if his ugly plus-minus might have you think otherwise.
He projects fairly safely as a third-line centre but I think there’s enough playmaking skill to potentially become a 2C. He’s going to start putting up numbers in the AHL sooner rather than later.
3. Michael Rasmussen, C/LW, 20 (Grand Rapids Griffins)
I normally wouldn’t include a player who spent virtually all of last season in the NHL. But Rasmussen also hasn’t played a game in the NHL this season, he’s only 20 and lost time to his back injury which all combine to create the same kind of uncertainty that is typical of a prospect. There aren’t many 6-foot-6 players in the NHL these days, let alone ones that produce offensively, so Rasmussen is trying to become a bit of a unique player in that regard.
In his draft year I felt he was picked too high and that it might prove difficult for him to match his defensive prowess, his goal scoring touch and his length with the other necessary puck skills needed to be a playmaker at the NHL level. And while he will always have the tools to be a depth forward, he has to show more aptitude with the puck on his stick which has helped him become more of a threat off the rush. He’s also got great reflexes on tips and redirects if they decide to use him in front off the net on the power play. He’s not going to be a star or drive a line but he increasingly looks like someone who can help the Wings in all situations.
