Michael Rasmussen provides critical health update

The Detroit Red Wings were riding high in late February, officially occupying a Wild Card postseason spot while threatening to even move up further in the standings thanks to winning four of five on a western road trip while also returning home and taking down the powerful New York Rangers. It almost seemed like the postseason drought was about to be over. 

However, things immediately began to fall off the rails after they were unable to beat Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on February 25, firing 45 shots on goal but being unable to sneak one past the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner. But that wasn't the biggest loss of the evening.

Forward Michael Rasmussen was injured when he blocked a shot from Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian, breaking his kneecap and putting him on the shelf for the remainder of the regular season. His absence in the lineup was immediately felt, especially in Detroit's next two games against the division rival Ottawa Senators in which they were outscored and outclassed physically. 

“It was obviously frustrating, tough with where things were at with the team, how well everyone was playing,” Rasmussen said today. “It was upsetting to watch and not be out there with the guys.

“Just got to focus on getting myself back to 100 percent and pick up where I left off.”

The good news for Rasmussen is that he's on track to be 100% healthy for training camp in September, and is only a short time away from being able to resume his normal summer workouts.

He explained that GM Steve Yzerman's message to him was to "be hungry, get after it this summer and take another step.”

“There’s more improvement that needs to be had and can be had,” he said. “I just got to have a great summer and keep working on my body, keep working on different things on the ice as far as what’ll make my game go to even another level.”