Detroit — Michael Rasmussen showed definitive glimpses last season of being a piece in the Red Wings’ rebuild.
As this season is unfolding, Rasmussen has done nothing to change that opinion.
Rasmussen had his first four-point NHL game during Wednesday’s 7-4 victory over Tampa Bay. The line of Rasmussen, Dylan Larkin and David Perron (both Larkin and Perron had three points) starred throughout the game and could be an intriguing trio going forward for coach Derek Lalonde.
But it is Rasmussen’s continued development that makes Lalonde’s life easier.
“Ras is a diverse player,” said Lalonde, adding he’s liked the look of the Larkin line.
Rasmussen’s ability to play either center or wing has long been one of the most positive attributes to his game.
The former 2017 first-round draft pick (ninth overall) took a significant step forward last season with a career-high 15 goals and 12 assists. Rasmussen has six goals and nine assists thus far this season, while being utilized in a variety of ways.
Lalonde said assistant coach Alex Tanguay has been pushing to put Rasmussen on a wing and Lalonde felt it was a good move at this time also, given Rasmussen takes face-offs for Larkin, who is nursing a hand injury.
“It simplifies his game,” Lalonde said of putting Rasmussen on a wing. “He can skate more north-south being onthe wing and he’s been pretty good there. Fortunately with the amount of injuries we’ve had up front all year it’s been a luxury, those guys who can play both wing and center.
“Suits (Pius Suter) going to center the last few games has played very well for us, too.”
Rasmussen, 23, plays a simple, hard-working game that doesn’t have a lot of flash to it. He’s most effective around or below the net, using his size, reach and strength.
Rasmussen, Larkin and Perron played a similarly determined, no-frills style against Tampa.
“We were just working,” Rasmussen said. “Everyone was doing their jobs well. We had a really good forecheck night, some good plays. Everyone was competing, getting to their spots and it just went well for us.”
Managing Husso’s workload
Goaltender Ville Husso will get a deserved and needed breather during this holiday break, which was extended to four days for the Wings after Friday’s game in Ottawa was postponed.
Wednesday’s victory over Tampa was Husso’s 23rd game and start of the season. That 23 becomes a little staggering when you realize the Wings have played 32 games total.
“We’ve asked a lot of him,” Lalonde said.
Especially lately, Lalonde and his staff have thought deeply of when to give Husso a rare night off. Husso’s last sat out Dec. 14 in Minnesota, when Magnus Hellberg, who was recently claimed off waivers, made his season debut.
Had the Wings’ game in Ottawa been played, it’s likely Husso would have started the game, given the weekend off.
“There’s a balance there,” Lalonde said of when to play or rest Husso. “It’s something we’re battling here. He had some rest before this stretch. We had the vision of playing him the last four games down the stretch.”
Lalonde feels Husso’s workload has been manageable up until the last two games against Washington (facing 42 shots) and Tampa (38 shots).
“We’ve been playing pretty well defensively. There was not a lot of volume (three games last week),” Lalonde said. “But the (Washington) game there was some volume and (Tampa), too. Even that fourth goal (allowed to Tampa), I don’t think a fresh Ville Husso gives that up.
“There’s going to be a balance there that we are going to have to manage.”
Ice chips
Lalonde is hopeful that an extra day off, and this long weekend in general, will help Larkin, who is playing through some sort of hand injury. Larkin scored two goals against Tampa, so the discomfort isn’t overwhelming him.
“When it (the injury) happened, the doctor was like he may play the next game or be out for eight weeks, so it was a little bit of an unknown,” Lalonde said. “The fact he’s played and played at a pretty good level is a positive.”
… Before heading out for the weekend, Lalonde had no further plan on when to reinsert Jakub Vrana into the lineup. Vrana missed two months while in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program, but returned last week and is progressing.
“You’ve seen him. He’s in pretty good shape and ahead of where I would expect on the ice,” Lalonde said. “He’s been doing something to take care of himself. It’s hard to say (when Vrana could be playing).”
Lalonde has mentioned possibly putting Vrana on a brief conditioning stint as an option.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan