C Michael Rasmussen - Tri-City Americans, WHL (2017, 9th, DET)

[Get North]

6'4 and 180 pounds. Ton of skill, picked 7th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. He's a '99 so he is just starting his WHL career. I think he's an interesting player to follow but he's physical (123 PIMs in 59 GP during his bantam season), he has skill, and he can skate pretty well. I think a good first look for some will be at the U17s in November. He's still young and has to prove himself in the WHL but definitely intriguing with that size and skill.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=286738

Click to read more...

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

What are people's thoughts on this guy? 18 points in 24 games as a 16 year old and is 6'4". I think Maxime Comtois is the only 16-year-old in the CHL having a better offensive season so far. Is Rasmussen the real deal?

 

[zeropotentate]

I know looking at stats only isn't a good thing to do, but I haven't been able to see him play. But among u17 skaters in the CHL this year (according to some eliteprospects data which is always a bit old) Rasmussen is 5th in points, and tied for 5th in ppg (this may have changed since because as mentioned eliteprospects is old).

But how you interpret the data is important. 3 players from the Q are statistically better: Comtois, Morand, Veleno. In the OHL Lodnia has 1 more point and Vilardi has a better ppg. But in the WHL Rasmussen leads both those categories.
Also Rasmussen is 8th in scoring for Tri-City according to the same website. Whereas other u17 prospects mentioned are as such: Morand tie 2nd, Comtois 2nd, Veleno 7th, Vilardi 9th, Lodnia 8th.

So, I think he is definitely top 5 so far this year in terms of point production, and is similar stats wise to Vilardi, Veleno, and Lodnia. But Rasmussen is 6'4/6'5 and whereas out of the others mentioned Vilardi is 6'2, Comtois 6'1, Veleno 6'0, Morand 5'10, Lodnia 5'9.

Physically Rasmussen has the upper hand, and will hopefully throughout the rest of this year as he gets comfortable in the WHL to produce more, and play a more rounded game. I don't know how tough of a game he players, but the potential is there for him to dominate physically within the next 2 years at this level.

Can anyone who has seen him play offer any insights into his game? I know stats don't tell the whole story, but they do indicate him being a promising prospect.

 

[Keep Sorokin Me Babe]

6'5 now and still growing, seems to be this year's Logan Brown except he plays with an edge as well and more consistent in his intensity level. Liked him at the u18 camp moreso than Vilardi/Comtois/Tippet; really intriguing prospect and it'll be fun to watch how much more he'll progress in this upcoming season

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

Hopefully he isn't one of those Tri-City players who overachieve as a 16-year-old just to go undrafted (see Adam Hughesman, Connor Rankin).

 

[BigRangy]

He's my dark horse #1 OA. Doubt it'll happen, but you heard it here first!

 

[JA]

Michael Rasmussen from Surrey, BC, playing for Tri-Cities in the WHL, is a 6'5'' 203 lb centerman. He is an April 1999 born player. He scored 18 goals, 43 points in 63 games in his rookie WHL campaign this past season as a 16-year-old.

A hometown 6'5'' centerman with elite skill, consistent intensity and a physical edge? That sounds like a dream for the Vancouver Canucks. If Vancouver lands in the vicinity of his placement in the draft rankings, I'm sure he'll be a favorite to be taken by his hometown team. The Canucks desperately need a first-line center prospect.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/tri-city-americans-rookie-michael-rasmussen-on-path-to-stardom-005118476.html

Tri-City Americans rookie Michael Rasmussen on path to stardom
Kelly Friesen By Kelly Friesen
4 December, 2015 8:49 AM

The Tri-City Americans hockey brass has appeared to hit a homerun with the seventh overall selection of Michael Rasmussen in the 2014 WHL bantam draft. He has the makings of a star while looking anything but a freshman this year. He not only looks older than 16 years old with an imposing 6-foot-4, 180-pound stature, but he also plays well beyond his years with a potent blend of a strong skating ability, high-end vision and an edge to his game.

“Michael has made the jump to the WHL a seamless transition due to his approach to preparing for practices and games,” says Americans general manager Bob Tory. “He is a very mature and serious, but also enjoys the day-to-day struggles that make you a better player and person. He has learned at a young age that the journey is much more important than the destination. He is focused on constant and never-ending improvement.”

The left-handed centre, who has scored seven goals and 17 points in 23 games, points to the work he put in last offseason as a major reason why he’s hit the ground running in Tri-City.

“I think a hard offseason is paying off,” says Rasmussen. “I worked hard to get stronger and faster and get ready for this season.”

In addition, with the 11-16-1-0 Americans going through a retool period, the Surrey, B.C., native feels he’s been given an opportunity to succeed and has been eased into the league by the organization.

...

Rasmussen’s impressive play hasn’t caught too many onlookers by surprise based on his 2014-15 season at the Okanagan Hockey Academy. He was a dominant force at the midget prep level, netting 27 goals and 50 points in 28 contests.

“I developed a lot there,” says Rasmussen. “Definitely seeing how many guys from there play in the WHL, it shows they have really good development. They helped me a lot to develop into a better player.”

When taking into account Rasmussen’s size, elite skill set and pro upside, it is easy to think of former Calgary Hitmen and Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf when looking for a reasonable comparison. He clearly has a long road ahead of him before he's in the same company as a legitimate NHL superstar, but the shared characteristics are quite visible. Moreover, considering Getzlaf only netted 18 points in his WHL rookie season, Rasmussen appears to have a head start on the major junior side of things.

“It’s a big complement to be compared to him (Getzlaf),” he says. “Those big centres, I study and watch them and see how they play in the NHL. I have the size and can use that to help me with my reach and to play physical in the tough areas. I’m lucky my dad and my uncles are all tall because my size is an advantage.”

#15 for Tri-Cities.

When Tri-Cities first signed him:

http://www.whl.ca/article/americans-sign-prospect-michael-rasmussen

AMERICANS SIGN PROSPECT MICHAEL RASMUSSEN
Thu Jan 15

KENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the team has signed 15-year-old prospect Michael Rasmussen to a standard WHL Player Contract.

Rasmussen was drafted in the 1st round (7th overall) of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

“Michael is an elite player in the 1999 age group in Canada,” stated Tory. “He is a big, skilled forward with tremendous leadership capabilities. We are pleased that Michael and his family have chosen our organization and the WHL for his future hockey development and the pursuit of his goals.”

...

"I first saw Michael play early last season when he arrived at the Okanagan Hockey Academy,” Rasmussen’s agent, JP Barry said. “I liked what I saw the first few shifts. Michael is an intelligent young man who leads by example. He has terrific size, elite skills, great skating ability and he does this while playing a physical, power forward game. The Americans now have another top prospect to prepare for the future."

...

 

[JA]

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/other-sports/tri-city-americans/article84977997.html

Tri-City’s Michael Rasmussen invited to Canada’s U18 selection camp
June 20, 2016 9:42 PM

Tri-City Americans forward Michael Rasmusssen was invited to Team Canada’s U18 select team camp July 29-Aug. 2 in Calgary.

Of the 44 players invited to camp, 22 will be selcted to play for Team Canada in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament from Aug. 10-15 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and accomplishment for Michael,” said Americans gerneral manager Bob Tory in a news release. “Michael established himself as an elite player with our hockey club last season as a 16-year-old.”

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Rasmussen had 18 goals and 43 points in 63 games during his rookie season.

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament will include teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. Canada has won eight consecutive Hlinka Memorial Cups.

 

[JA]

Upon examining all of Rasmussen's goals this past season on the WHL's website, I can say conclusively that he did not score any finesse goals. He battles hard in front of the net and uses his strength to get to loose pucks in the crease. He also seems to have good hand-eye coordination, scoring a few goals on stick blade deflections; on one goal, he drove with the puck from behind the net to the crease. He uses his large frame to overwhelm the opposition in the crease.

I don't see him having any trouble matching his goal totals from last year, as he hardly benefited from his linemates on his goals. He scored on a few tap-in opportunities at the side of the net, but the majority of his goals involved digging around in the crease and whacking the puck into the net, or on a couple of occasions charging towards the net.

Lots of garbage goals a la Phil Esposito.

 

[landy92mack29]

4 goals through 2 periods tonight. 1st one was a great read by Valimaki who set up Rasmussen who made a nice tip in. 2nd one Rasmussen set up a teammate out front and then he buried the rebound. I didn't see his natural hatty goal but his 4th he outmuscled everyone out front and then let a quick release go that went top shelf that the goalie had zero chance on.

He's someone I think will go top 10 and someone I'd love if the Avs drafted.

 

[Get North]

This guy is a beast. He's strong physically, he'll play physical, but he can skate really well out there like a Hedman. At the Ivan Hlinka, he was used as a checking centre but in the WHL he plays as a scorer. Versatile player with good hockey sense.

Getzlaf was drafted as a "two-way player" and didn't go high despite his size. It'll be interesting if Rasmussen ends up the same.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

he is gonna rise in the rankings so damn much over the year. Complete stud he is

 

[Daximus]

People keep saying this class is weak but with guys like Rasmussen not even slated to go top 5 yet I beg to differ.

 

[Zaddy]

Probably won't take too long for him to rise in the rankings. Very easy player to like. Likely a top10 pick when it's all said and done.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Was going to put up a video of his 4 goal game, but the stream was pretty choppy and so bad that it actually cut out his hat trick goal. Video came back when hats were being tossed on the ice.

At any rate, he had another goal tonight in a Tri-City loss. Tipped a point shot on the PP.

 

[landy92mack29]

Still is on fire to start the year. Was the 1st star today with the OT winner as well as an assist. Him and Wotherspoon came in on a partial 2-on-1 with Wotherspoon trying to pass it to Rasmussen but the d-man blocked it but Rasmussen drove the net and buried it. 6G+2A in the 1st 4 games.

 

[Breakers]

I said it a little over a month ago in a different thread that I think this guy is going to go top 10.

He isn't proving me wrong yet.

He reminds me a tiny bit of Tkachuk in that he earns his points in close around the net, nothing flashy.

 

[93LEAFS]

This guy is a beast. He's strong physically, he'll play physical, but he can skate really well out there like a Hedman. At the Ivan Hlinka, he was used as a checking centre but in the WHL he plays as a scorer. Versatile player with good hockey sense.

Getzlaf was drafted as a "two-way player" and didn't go high despite his size. It'll be interesting if Rasmussen ends up the same.

Getzlaf was viewed as a top 10 pick in a VERY DEEP draft, he slipped because people thought he was immature/had attitude issues.

As for Rasmussen, he is obviously a guy with the potential to rapidly rise up the draft charts.

 

[NarcoPolo]

I remember watching him play at the team canada development camp when he was 16 and he was arguably the best player on the ice (Peyton Hoyt was really solid). He was chippy but he also looked much stronger than everyone else. Kind of reminded me of kuznetsov, style wise, offensively but that was a year or two ago. I think he'll justify a top 10 pick if he continues to progress.

 

[Breakers]

Getzlaf was viewed as a top 10 pick in a VERY DEEP draft, he slipped because people thought he was immature/had attitude issues.

As for Rasmussen, he is obviously a guy with the potential to rapidly rise up the draft charts.

Also look at their Junior highlights

They are nothing alike.

 

[Get North]

Getzlaf was viewed as a top 10 pick in a VERY DEEP draft, he slipped because people thought he was immature/had attitude issues.

As for Rasmussen, he is obviously a guy with the potential to rapidly rise up the draft charts.

Yeah I guess it isn't a good comparison considering the faults with Getzlaf.

For fans who haven't seen Rasmussen, I'd say the weakness in his game is probably his creativity. He isn't much of a dangler or doesn't have the soft hands, but he has good vision with the puck and makes good passes to generate assists. Good shot, plays infront of the net on the PP using his 6'5 frame to tip pucks,

 

[JA]

He definitely produces as advertised -- a big, strong net-front presence. He overwhelms the opposition in the crease.

Here are his goals so far this season:

 

[JA]

Two more goals for Rasmussen against the Everett Silvertips on Friday, October 7, 2016.

He now has 8 goals, 2 assists, 10 points in 7 games so far this season.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Seems to be really good around the net for tip-ins and rebounds, kinda like Ryan Smyth.

 

[Josepho]

Barring an injury or some unprecedented lack of production, the dude is absolutely going to go top 10. Last year we had Logan Brown go up the rankings and Rasmussen is currently a similar prospect to Brown, in a draft that isn't as deep as Brown's. However, I'm not totally convinced that his method of producing is one that an NHL center can pull off. A big thing I look for in an NHL center is someone who can help out his linemates and utilize them in a way that helps him out too. Some guys can get away with it, such as Ryan Kesler, but normally centers require seriously good vision. I'm not saying that he is a dumb player or one with poor vision, but it's an element I have yet to see from him which is creating a huge question mark. He's going to be a good player in this league, I'm just unsure of whether or not he can pull it off as a center. But, as of now, I'd absolutely take a flyer on him at somewhere around 9.