From The Silky Mitten State: How Rasmussen's diverse array of abilities make him the rare depth player worth keeping around

Last week, Michael Rasmussen signed an extension valued at $3.2 million per year to remain a Red Wing for four more seasons.  

There is an inherent risk to signing a depth player to any sort of medium- or long-term contract, and while Rasmussen has made cameos in Detroit's top six throughout the season, he is realistically better described as a complementary player than as a star.

Nonetheless, I've argued that the extension represents good value for the Red Wings because of the importance of high-quality, modest cost depth players to Cup contending teams.  Rasmussen is also an undeniable success story when it comes to honing obvious physical gifts (most notably, a massive frame and powerful skating) into a functional role.  He is a player that makes life easier for everyone he plays with, adored by coaches and teammates alike.

In the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I discussed Rasmussen's extension and his fit/value to the Red Wings.  We touched on lots of the above, while also pointing to the alternative to developing a player who can serve Rasmussen's role internally—over-paying for such a player on the trade or free agent market.

Here's a snippet of that conversation:

For the full discussion and for full episodes of The Silky Mitten State, check out Spotify or Apple Podcasts:

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