TRAVERSE CITY - Michael Rasmussen played well during the preseason last year but was destined to return to juniors regardless.

This year, the Detroit Red Wings expect the 6-foot-6, 221-pound forward to earn a roster spot, so he must show that he is ready for the NHL during exhibition games.

Rasmussen, the Red Wings' top pick in 2017 (ninth overall), will be in the lineup for Wednesday's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

"I feel good. I got to bring it to another level for preseason and I'm just excited to get that going," Rasmussen said. "I got a lot of opportunity. I'm just ready for whatever games they give me. The more the merrier. It's exciting."

The Red Wings broke training camp Tuesday and will play eight preseason games in a span of 11 days. Coach Jeff Blashill told media at Centre ICE Arena that Rasmussen will skate on a line with Joe Veleno, the 30th pick this year, and Justin Abdelkader on Wednesday.

Blashill said Rasmussen, 19, improved as camp progressed and is more comfortable at wing, where he excelled for Tri-City in the WHL playoffs (16 goals, 33 points in 14 games) and also for the Red Wings in the Prospects Tournament. A natural center, the Red Wings want him to transition to the NHL at wing, where he won't have quite the same defensive responsibility.

"Ras will get a chance, first earn a spot on the team and then earn those minutes in exhibition," Blashill said.

Rasmussen said he's comfortable at the wing and feels good playing a net-front role on the power play.

"It's takes a lot of practice," Rasmussen said. "That's my job, that's what I have to do. I've practiced it a lot. I just got to be there."

Abdelkader called Rasmussen a big, strong power-forward type with good hands.

"I played with him last year (when) he played center," Abdelkader said. "I thought he did a really good job, strong on faceoffs, I think he's good defensively, responsible. I think he's versatile, so he can play net-front, he can play pretty much anywhere you put him."

Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard knows the value of a good net-front player, especially on the power play, a specialty in which the Red Wings rank last in the league in the past two seasons combined.

"It's a distraction to have a guy that big in front of me," Howard said. "It's tough to see around guys that big, so to have that net-front presence, especially in today's game on the power play, can be very beneficial."

Lines combinations are always fluid, and much depends on injuries. But Blashill likes Dylan Larkin with Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi and has had Andreas Athanasiou centering Thomas Vanek and Filip Zadina in camp.

Perhaps Rasmussen will get a look on Frans Nielsen's line.

"He's big, strong on the puck, he's a really good player around the net," Nielsen said. "Probably one of those type of players we miss a little bit. He'll score those dirty goals for us."

Rasmussen realizes opportunity is there, but he's not putting too much pressure on himself. Chances are, he'll start the season in Detroit and get a good look. If he's not NHL-ready, he must return to the Tri-City Americans because he is not eligible to play for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

"I definitely feel good about my game," Rasmussen said. "I worked extremely hard this summer on my off-ice and on my on-ice, so the fact that I put in a lot of hours in the gym and on the ice helps my confidence. I feel there's opportunity here and I want to come in and do my best and be a good teammate."

Banged up: Blashill said Vanek and Zadina are dealing with minor groin injuries and won't play Wednesday. It remains to be seen if they'll be available for Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks at LCA.