June 23, 2017. United Center, Chicago. The Detroit Red Wings hold the 9th overall pick, and the rebuild is officially on. The fanbase is buzzing, dreaming of the franchise cornerstone who could lead Detroit back to glory. General Manager Ken Holland steps to the podium, adjusts the mic, and delivers a name that would send shockwaves through Hockeytown for the next decade: Michael Rasmussen.
The reaction? A collective shrug. Sure, Rasmussen was a 6-foot-6 center from the WHL with intriguing size and a solid pedigree. But this wasn't the sexy pick. This wasn't the pick that made your heart race. And here's the kicker - what followed was an absolute murderer's row of talent that would redefine the NHL for a generation. The Red Wings Passed On Multiple Future Stars With Fateful Michael Rasmussen Pick In 2017, and the sting hasn't faded one bit.
Let's run the immediate aftermath because it's almost too painful to believe. At 10th overall, Owen Tippett became a 40-goal scorer in Philadelphia - 44 goals in 2022-23, then 47 more in 2023-24. Gabriel Vilardi at 11th? A 36-goal season in Winnipeg. Martin Necas at 12th? He posted a 71-point campaign before getting traded to Colorado as a star asset. Nick Suzuki at 13th? He's literally the captain of the Montreal Canadiens with 77 points in 2023-24.
And then there's the 16th pick. Cale Makar. A three-time Norris Trophy winner by 2025. A Conn Smythe winner. The single most dynamic defenseman of his generation. The Red Wings Passed On Multiple Future Stars With Fateful Michael Rasmussen Pick In 2017, and the hockey gods have been making them pay ever since.
| Pick | Player | Team Selected | Career Highlights (as of Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | Owen Tippett | Florida Panthers | 40+ goal scorer, 2022-24 |
| 11th | Gabriel Vilardi | Los Angeles Kings | 36 goals in 2023-24 |
| 12th | Martin Necas | Carolina Hurricanes | 71 points in 2023-24; traded to COL |
| 13th | Nick Suzuki | Vegas Golden Knights | Canadiens captain; 77 points |
| 16th | Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | 3x Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe winner |
📊 [Makar at 16th overall vs. Rasmussen at 9th] - The Red Wings literally passed on a future Hall of Fame defenseman for a player who just got traded for a third-pairing blueliner.
The Salary Cap Anchor and The Fade to Irrelevance
If you want to understand why the Red Wings have been trapped in hockey purgatory for a decade, look no further than the production line. Rasmussen received every opportunity to become a top-six forward. The ice time. The power-play looks. Organizational patience that bordered on stubbornness. And by August 2026, the results are damning: 391 games, 57 goals, 72 assists, 129 points. His career-high? A modest 14 goals back in 2023-24. He never once threatened to be a top-six center, let alone the power forward the scouting reports promised.
The writing was on the wall in July 2024 when the Wings inked him to a 3-year, $9.6 million extension. That wasn't a vote of confidence; it was a low-cost gamble to see if he could transform into a "useful piece." He promptly rewarded that faith with his worst statistical season in 2025-26: 11 goals and 16 assists across 80 games, a career-low 0.34 points per game. As his ice time dwindled, his role morphed into a forechecking afterthought - a guy earning $3.2 million annually to be a fourth-line passenger.
For a team desperately trying to snap a decade-long playoff drought, carrying a non-productive former 9th overall pick on the cap was a death sentence. The Red Wings Passed On Multiple Future Stars With Fateful Michael Rasmussen Pick In 2017, and that single decision clogged their salary structure with a player who simply couldn't produce.
The Final Bell: The San Jose Salvage Operation
The end came on July 1, 2026. With pressure mounting and a need to shake up the roster, Steve Yzerman finally pulled the trigger. The Rasmussen era in Detroit ended where most failed projects end: a low-impact trade. The Wings shipped Rasmussen and a 2026 third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Mario Ferraro.
📊 [391 games, 129 points] - Rasmussen's entire Red Wings career produced less offensive output than Makar posted in a single season (86 points in 2021-22).
