Bob Duff: Rasmussen Back On Board Michael Rasmussen will see his first game action with the Detroit Red Wings since Jan. 4 when he suits up Thursday against Vegas.

His possession numbers are atrocious. He can't skate. Another tremendous Holland pick.

His possession numbers are atrocious. He can't skate. Another tremendous Holland pick.
- Gertner

The Kid's only 19 and you're already writing him off ?? Have you even seen him play ? His size, net-front presence and scoring touch around the net are only going to get better. Way too early to pass judgement yet. I don't know if he'll be the next Thomas Holmstrom for the Wings (remember him ?) but give the kid a chance.

The Kid's only 19 and you're already writing him off ?? Have you even seen him play ? His size, net-front presence and scoring touch around the net are only going to get better. Way too early to pass judgement yet. I don't know if he'll be the next Thomas Holmstrom for the Wings (remember him ?) but give the kid a chance.
- Vladdie_Kon1

He is not wrong. Kid is a PP net front specialist and better players were available when the pick was made.

I guess I'll take the middle position here?

Rasmussen is definitely not what you'd call a good NHLer (yet), and might never be. He's got great size but a somewhat limited skill set. Like Feds I also hated the Rasmussen pick when it was made as I felt it was a huge reach at No. 9 and there more talented options available (Vilardi, Liljegren, Brannstrom, etc.).

On the other hand, 19 is way too early to write someone off, and no one drafted after him has really done anything yet at the NHL level (although Brannstrom is having an awesome season in the AHL, sigh.)

I would probably still call Rasmussen a bad pick based on what we knew at the time, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be a bad player full stop. If he ends up being somewhere between a poor man's Tomas Holmstrom and a rich man's Justin Abdelkader ... I mean, that's not awful, as long as he's used (and paid) appropriately.

I guess I'll take the middle position here?

Rasmussen is definitely not what you'd call a good NHLer (yet), and might never be. He's got great size but a somewhat limited skill set. Like Feds I also hated the Rasmussen pick when it was made as I felt it was a huge reach at No. 9 and there more talented options available (Vilardi, Liljegren, Brannstrom, etc.).

On the other hand, 19 is way too early to write someone off, and no one drafted after him has really done anything yet at the NHL level (although Brannstrom is having an awesome season in the AHL, sigh.)

I would probably still call Rasmussen a bad pick based on what we knew at the time, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be a bad player full stop. If he ends up being somewhere between a poor man's Tomas Holmstrom and a rich man's Justin Abdelkader ... I mean, that's not awful, as long as he's used (and paid) appropriately.
- Sven22

This is basically my thoughts. Not a bad player. Just a player that likely doesn't have a high enough ceiling to justify the slot he was selected in. Would have preferred Vilardi, Necas, or Suzuki at the time of the pick.

This is basically my thoughts. Not a bad player. Just a player that likely doesn't have a high enough ceiling to justify the slot he was selected in. Would have preferred Vilardi, Necas, or Suzuki at the time of the pick.
- Feds91Stammer

Congrats, he is your Pavel Zacha.

Congrats, he is your Pavel Zacha.
- smellmyfinger

As long as Zadina is our Hischier that would be okay I suppose.