Before they took center Michael Rasmussen with the ninth overall pick in this year's NHL draft, the Detroit Red Wings hadn't selected in the top 10 since 1991.

That was the year they chose forward Martine Lapointe No. 10 overall. One year earlier, they also picked in the top 10, taking Keith Primeau third overall.

Both Lapointe and Primeau suited up for the Red Wings the same year they were drafted but the odds of Rasmussen doing it are a bit longer. Make that a lot longer.

For starters, the Red Wings don't like to rush young players to the NHL, something they didn't have to do while making the playoffs for 25 straight seasons, a streak that began when Primeau was a rookie and ended this year.

They also don't have many roster spots available.

Tyler Bertuzzi is expected to make the jump from Grand Rapids to Detroit and there might be one more roster spot available if restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou signs in Russia.

That could go to an NHL veteran such as PA Parenteau or David Booth, both of whom will attend training camp on a pro tryout, but Rasmussen also has his sights set on earning a spot in the NHL as soon as possible.

Dylan Larkin did it two years ago after his first NHL training camp so why not Rasmussen?

"Yeah, that's definitely the goal," said Rasmussen, 18. "I want to play in the NHL and I want to play for the Wings so whatever's asked of me, I'll do."

Playing well in the prospects tournament beginning tonight would be a good start toward impressing the Red Wings brass.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Rasmussen is one of 26 players the Red Wings invited to play in the prospects tournament, which begins with a 7:30 p.m. game against Carolina at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City. It's a rematch of last year's prospects tournament championship game.

Who knows what could happen Rasmussen can score some goals in the prospects tournament and training camp?

The Red Wings drafted Rasmussen to put the puck in the net after he bagged 32 goals in just 50 games for the WHL's Tri-City Americans last season. He also had 23 assists and 50 penalty minutes before fracturing his wrist in February and missing the remainder of his second full WHL season.

Rasmussen was cleared to participate in the Red Wings July development camp but didn't play in the long scrimmage as a precaution.

Still, he got to wear a Red Wings sweater for the first time and received some schooling in what it takes to be a pro hockey player.

"I think for sure it was a good camp, good to get the first one under my belt," Rasmussen said. "I think there's always room for stuff to improve on. I have a good skill set but I think for hockey players in general, you can't get too good at anything.

"So I'm going to ... work hard on my shot, work hard on my release, work hard on my first two strides and my acceleration, stuff like that. Just get in the gym every day and work on pretty much everything in my game."

After the prospects tournament ends Tuesday, Rasmussen will stick around Traverse City to take part in his first NHL training camp beginning Friday.

He'll need to do something spectacular to earn an NHL spot in camp and even if he managed to open the season in the NHL - which is highly unlikely - it could be tough to remain in Detroit the entire season.

Lapointe only played four NHL games early in the 1991-92 season before being sent back to the QMJHL. He played just three games in 1992-93 while again spending the majority of the campaign in the QMJHL and then split two seasons between Detroit and the AHL before finally becoming an NHL regular in 1995-96.

As for Primeau, he played 58 games with Detroit the year he was drafted but the Red Wings were also coming off a season that saw them record 70 points and miss the playoffs - something that didn't happen again until this year.

It wasn't until his third pro season in 1992-93 that Primeau became an NHL regular.

So, it's safe to say Rasmussen is almost certainly headed back to the WHL for another season with Tri-City, where he will serve as team captain.

He won't be reporting to the prospects tournament without having played a meaningful game since February, however.

Rasmussen played one game for Canada in last month's World Junior Showcase in Plymouth, getting no points and one shot on goal in and 8-2 loss to the United States.

On hand to watch Rasmussen play against Team USA were Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, coach Jeff Blashill, assistant GM Ryan Martin, assistant to the GM Kris Draper and senior vice president Jim Devellano.

"I thought he did a good job," Blashill told DetroitRedWings.com. "I've never seen him play before. I thought he skated well for a real big guy. I think it's going to continue to improve. I thought he made tons of plays in small areas, which is to me a big factor to tell.

"It's easy to make lots of cute plays or whatever but as you get up in the ranks of hockey, you have to make plays in tight spaces and I thought he did an excellent job of that. For me, it was a good showing."