Red Wings sign top draft pick Michael Rasmussen to a three-year deal

By
Alex Muller
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Good news for Red Wings fans. They came to terms with their top draft pick on Saturday, inking center Michael Rasmussen to a three-year entry-level deal.

Rasmussen (6-6, 220 pounds), the 18-year-old native of Surrey, British Columbia, was selected No. 9 overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Draft back in June. It was the franchise’s first pick inside the top 10 since selecting Martin Lapointe with the No. 10 overall selection in the 1991 Draft.

The big Canadian Rasmussen is presently playing for his country in the World Junior Summer Showcase at the USA Hockey Arena, in Plymouth Township.

Ramsussen is not expected to compete for a spot on the team come training camp, but has aspirations of playing in the prospects tournament up in Traverse City in September. He knows he has a long way to go before donning the famed winged wheel on a regular basis.

“It’s something that I worked for for a long time and something that me and my family put a lot of work into so it’s definitely rewarding to be there and I’m just really happy,” Rasmussen said before Team Canada played Team USA. “It’s a small step. I still got to prove myself now and the real work starts. It’s exciting, for sure.”

“I think I got to come in and have a good camp and finish my summer off strong and start the season and preseason in Tri-City well,” Rasmussen said. “It’s kind of on me.”

Rasmussen is expected to resume playing for the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League this upcoming season. He’s played 113 games for the Americans over the last two seasons, compiling 50 goals and 98 points, along with 87 penalty minutes. He potted 32 goals in just 50 games last season, despite missing the tail end of the season with a wrist injury.

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. The signing of the deal means he’s under contract with the Red Wings through the 2019-20 season.