Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Preview: No. 18 Michael Rasmussen

As the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL prepare for the draft, we look at Michael Rasmussen, the hulking centre who had a good season with the Tri-City Americans and is now looking to be a force at the next level.

The 2016 draft had several headlining players that controlled the main portion of the coverage in North America. This was particularly true north of the border, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and every other Canadian team failed to reach the playoffs.

This summer will be a different story. Further, there has been a lot of movement in the draft rankings over the course of the season.

On Wednesday, we looked at Cal Foote. Today, we profile Michael Rasmussen, who is the 18th-ranked prospect on our board.

Rasmussen was taken by the Americans with the seventh pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. His first season went well, with him burying 43 points in 63 games.

Rasmussen started the season off with a bang, scoring four goals in Tri-City’s first game of the year against Spokane:

The tall centre had 13 points in the first eight games of the season. He finished this season just over a point per game. He was seventh in team scoring, just behind fellow draft prospect Juuso Valimaki.

Along with the production, Rasmussen also isn’t afraid to get physical and drop the gloves if needed:

Here’s what Future Considerations had to say about Rasmussen:

"A big, skilled forward who uses his size well…has improved his skating substantially from his midget days…for a player his size, he moves phenomenally well, smoothly and with impressive power…does a very good job of consistently getting to the greasy areas of the ice; he wins a lot of battles in those areas due to his size and reach…goes to the net and blocks the goaltender’s view while looking for deflections and rebounds…not flashy hands, but can carry the puck using his body extremely well to protect it…has underrated vision and playmaking ability"

Rasmussen also played for Canada in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he had a goal and three assists in four games.

Tri-City was bounced by Seattle — the eventual Ed Chynoweth Cup winners — in five games in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Rasmussen fractured his wrist and had to watch the playoffs from the sideline.

As a bigger centre, Rasmussen will either slip or rise in the draft, depending on what certain teams are looking for. He was a top pick in many mocks throughout the season, so depending on who you believe, he could go anywhere from fifth to 20th. He’s a guy to keep an eye on come draft day.

Next: The Leafs' goaltending problem

What’s your take on Rasmussen? Do you agree with the current projection that he will be drafted 18th overall, or is this too high or low? Further, what kind of career are you predicting for him in the NHL? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.