Derek Lalonde doesn't want to get ahead of himself. Nothing is ever concrete with a 6'6, 23-year-old block of clay. But the more Lalonde plays Michael Rasmussen on the wing, the more he likes what he sees. He liked it so much Tuesday night that he broke his own rule after the Red Wings' 3-2 overtime win over the Sharks.
"I rarely single out a guy for an effort," said Lalonde. "Especially with the way we’re built, it literally feels like every time we win it’s a complete team effort. But Rass tonight ..."
Rasmussen started the night on Dylan Larkin's wing opposite Lucas Raymond on Detroit's first line. Lalonde had moved him there in the first place "because every line he’s been with he drives." He ended it by setting up Andrew Copp's game-winner, after having been reunited with Copp and David Perron on the second line, scoring a second-period goal to give Detroit a 2-1 lead and then paying the price by playing through a wounded knee for the rest of the game.
When Rasmussen sat next to Copp at the post-game podium and talked about the two of them winning a puck battle on the decisive face-off, Copp had to correct him: "Rass said that we won a battle. He won a battle. ... He did all the work. Won the battle off the face-off after I kind of lost it, took it right to the cage and both guys went to him." And there was Copp on the backdoor to bang home the rebound of Rasmussen's beautiful mess.
The Red Wings might have something here. In the giant goal-scoring center they drafted ninth overall in 2017, they might have a behemoth of a winger. Lalonde had almost no choice but to play Rasmussen down the middle to start the season amid so many injuries up front, but a healthier lineup -- and the growth of center Joe Veleno, another first-round pick of the prior regime -- has allowed him to experiment with Rasmussen on the wing.
"We’re still raw in his development, but I just think the wing frees up what he is: he hunts pucks, he wins battles, he simplifies his game," said Lalonde. "You know a winger is good when every center starts to come hinting that they would like to play with him, or if I have a talk with a player about their current game and they’re like, 'Well, when I was with Rass...' That’s certainly a good sign when you get those conversations.
"It’s a credit to him, because he’s probably a will kid. Again, I’m getting to know him, but he’s always a work-ethic-first (guy) and he’s getting rewarded. I’m really excited. He’s not a natural finisher, but he was involved in two points tonight."
Not to draw parallels that Lalonde admittedly draws too often himself, but the coach has seen this player before. Maybe not this exact one, but he had a few heavy, puck-hunting wingers in Tampa who might represent Rasmussen's future in Detroit. Lalonde offered Alex Killorn, while noting Killorn is "probably a little more skilled," and we'll offer Nick Paul and Barclay Goodrow, the latter of whom can also play center. All three helped the Lightning win Stanley Cups.
"It’s just that big body who takes pride in getting pucks out of your zone, winning puck battles and establishing a forecheck," said Lalonde. "He’s doing a lot of really good things. I’m glad they got the overtime goal, but those guys had a couple O-zone grind shifts, Copp, DP and him, that I think set us up to get to overtime."
Often stoic with the media, Copp couldn't hide his pleasure at being reunited with Rasmussen early in the game. They picked up with Perron right where they'd left off, possessing the puck and generating chances. Copp, whose own game is rounding into form after core muscle surgery in the offseason, said Rasmussen "brings an element that is unique to our team in terms of his size, forechecking ability and his skating, too."
"He’s been great on the forecheck, he’s been great net-front, he’s won a lot of battles that have gotten us the puck to keep it in the O zone, and then he’s been burying his chances," said Copp.
Rasmussen's goal came off a turnover along the boards. He wound up with the puck in the slot and didn't miss, beating James Reimer under the arm. He's up to 22 points in 44 games and on track to shatter his career high of 27 points (in 80 games) last season, and maybe it's worth remembering this is the same player who scored well over a point per game in the WHL. By the way, Killorn has 34 points in 46 games this season, Paul has 26 in 46 and Goodrow has 22 in 47 with the Rangers.
Rasmussen also has the best underlying numbers of his career, including one of the highest expected goals shares and high-danger scoring chance rates on the Red Wings. For a team that has struggled to generate offense at five on five, this is no small thing. Six years after he was drafted, Rasmussen is helping Detroit win games.
"As long as I’m competing and working and helping the team the best I can, I think that gives me my confidence," Rasmussen said. "I’ve learned to earn my confidence with hard work and just playing the right way and trying to be a good teammate. If I just stick to those things, my confidence will be where it should be."
As much as the Wings have preached patience with Rasmussen, Lalonde is preaching more of it. It remains to be seen where he sticks long term, and maybe he doesn't stick anywhere at all: there's enduring value in being able to play everywhere up front. (Just ask Goodrow and his $22 million deal on Broadway.) At the same time, Detroit's patience is beginning to pay off.
"This is a process we’re going (through) and this is a really good player," said Lalonde. "So far, he's pretty darn good on the wing."