Red Wings prospect Michael Rasmussen dominates again in WHL playoffs

Top Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Rasmussen had another impressive performance Monday.

Rasmussen, selected No. 9 overall in last year’s draft, had two goals and an assist Monday in Game 3 of the third round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. It was his eighth multipoint game in 14 playoff games, giving him 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. Rasmussen has at least one point in every Tri-City playoff game.

The Americans ended up losing, 8-4, and trail the best-of-7 series against Everett, 2-1. Game 4 is Thursday.

More: Detroit Red Wings prospects help Griffins to 1-1 series in playoffs

Rasmussen, 19, is making a strong case to be on next year’s Red Wings squad. He had a good camp last year, and will come into this autumn’s camp on the strength of a phenomenal playoff performance and, presumably, a good summer in the gym. If Rasmussen doesn’t make the Wings, he will have to go back to juniors because he has a year left of eligibility.

At 6-foot-6, 221 pounds, Rasmussen has the ability to screen goalies and be effective down low. He’s mostly been a center, but he’s played some wing in the playoffs, and that versatility will help his audition in September.

The Wings ended up falling back two spots from where they finished in the 2016-17 standings when New Jersey and Philadelphia won two of the lottery picks. The Wings will find out Saturday during the NHL draft lottery where they will make this June's first-round selection.

More: Detroit Red Wings' roster for next season: Who stays and who goes?

Let’s review the Top 10 2017 first-round picks and what they did this past season.

F Nico Hischier

First overall, New Jersey. Had 20 goals, 32 assists for 52 points in 82 games with the Devils.

F Nolan Patrick

Second overall, Philadelphia. Had 13 goals, 17 assists for 30 points in 73 games with the Flyers.

D Miro Heiskanen

Third overall, Dallas. Had 11 goals, 12 assists for 23 points in 30 games with Helsinki in the Finnish elite league.

F Cale Makar

Fourth overall, Colorado. Had five goals,16 assist for 21 points in 34 games with UMass-Amherst in Hockey East.

F Elias Pettersson

Fifth overall, Vancouver. Had 24 goals, 32 assists for 56 points in 44 games with Vaxjo in the Swedish Hockey League.

F Cody Glass

Sixth overall, Vegas. Had 37 goals, 65 assists in 64 games with Portland in the Western Hockey League (where he was a teammate of Wings 2016 first-round pick Dennis Cholowski).

F Lias Andersson

Seventh overall, New York Rangers. Had seven goals, seven assists for 14 points in 22 games with Frolunda in the Swedish hockey league. Had five goals, nine assists for 14 points in 25 games with Hartford in the American Hockey League. Scored in his NHL debut with the Rangers, and had two points in seven games with New York.

F Casey Mittelstadt

Eighth overall, Buffalo. Had 11 goals, 19 assists for 30 points in 34 games with University of Minnesota in the Big Ten. Had one goal, four assists for five points in six game swift the Sabres (he made his NHL debut March 29 against the Wings, recording an assist).

F Michael Rasmussen

Had 31 goals and 28 assists for 59 points in 47 games with Tri-City. Missed about six weeks after undergoing wrist surgery in December.

F Owen Tippett

10th overall, Florida. Had one goal in seven games with the Panthers at the start of the 2017-18 season before being returned to juniors. Had 36 goals and 39 assists for 75 points in 51 games with Mississauga in the Ontario Hockey League.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!