Red Wings sign center to four-year extension

The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Michael Rasmussen to a four-year, $12.8M contract extension with an annual average value (AAV) of $3.2M. 

Rasmussen has scored 11 goals and 23 points in 55 games this season, on pace to score a career-high 34 points through 82 games. 

He’s been with the Red Wings organization for his entire career, getting drafted by the team with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. 

He’s the second player from that year’s top 10 to earn a long-term extension this season, with 10th overall selection Owen Tippett signing an eight-year extension with the Philadelphia Flyers in January.

Rasmussen has found a new groove this season, rotating onto the top line with Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane. 

It’s been an exciting bounce back from a knee injury that ended Rasmussen’s 2022-23 season in early March. He played in 56 games before the injury, netting 10 goals and 29 points. 

Rasmussen also scored 15 goals in the prior season, showing his ability to be a difference-maker when given the opportunity. 

All of that progress has led Rasmussen to now play the most ice time of his career, averaging 15:10 this season. His next step will be reinforcing his role on the team’s power play, where he held a consistent spot in each of the last two seasons but has yet to appear this year. 

Rasmussen managed four power play goals in his rookie season of 2018-19 but has since failed to score on the man-advantage at all — managing just five power play assists since the 2020-21 season. 

The Red Wings power play is tied with the Vancouver Canucks for 10th-best in the league this season, with a 23.2 percent success rate.