Where you high on him going into that draft? And do you have an established pro to compare him too?
I was somewhat high on Rasmussen entering his draft. I didn't have him over Necas for instance, but I am different with most Wings fans in terms of being okay with the selection even back at the time. I sort of saw him as an upgraded Martin Hanzal. His ability to play with his back to goal even as a junior is something that I haven't seen often that young. I am old enough to remember Andreychuk who was one of the better PP players ever and Rasmussen reminds me of him in his ability to anchor places and that has shown at times even this year while adjusting to much larger and stronger people around him.
I had him ranked as our top prospect entering the season and Cholowski at #2 so I was higher on both of them than a lot of people in terms of that placement over Zadina. As somebody that bought the WHL game package last year to specifically watch those two their steps forward were apparent last year. Rasmussen is a fairly unique package which is one of the things I do really like about his game and feel with his work ethic teams up to a fascinating ceiling. Which is really where I differ a ton from people who hated this pick in terms of Wings fans. To me it is his ceiling that is most fascinating. If he turns that tremendous work rate and serious nature on and off ice with his physical gifts he could be terrifying. He is good at in tight plays and most of what he really excels at are things that are of significant importance in terms of what makes guys successful at the NHL level in my opinion.
What I have always liked is the way he skates for a big man, he is rare for a big guy in that he is generally still a start and stop skater for like 90% of the time where a lot of bigger men glide more in my opinion. I think when he gets more comfortable he will use his reach more often and he is still scratching the surface there.
Anders Lee is another name that can be thrown out there. I know you need to be careful about just all big guy comparisons, but Rasmussen is a massive young man. He could use another 15 to 20 lbs and looks to have the frame for it as long as his skating doesn't drop off that would be big. But he is learning about man strength on a nightly basis, it is just different in terms of the strength you have in your 20's versus your teens at least in my opinion and I expect that to be a big adjustment in terms of his off-season. But he has to embrace how powerful he can become. Rasmussen is a legitimate weapon in the NHL, a player you can do everything right on and come out on the wrong end of that exchange still. But he is going to need to develop more is all. Good in tight, I think he just needs a few bounces and he can get it going for a bit. But it is consistency shift to shift and night to night that will be key like with all players. He is pretty good at it for a 19 year old and I think he will be a lot better at it in a few years in terms of the impact he can make on a hockey game. Dependable 200 foot player thus far too which is also nice in terms of allowing him to develop even if he isn't piling up a ton of offensive stats.