VICTOR RASK - Center - 26 - $4.00MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2022-2023
LAST UPDATED 8/20/19
Although he did score 45+ points in two straight seasons in his early twenties, Victor Rask is not that same player. A damaging hand injury and a trade to Minnesota have both severely hurt his value on the ice and his inability to win over coaches and produce consistently have made him a true negative-value asset. Rask used to be able to hang on with skilled teammates and produce thanks to their abilities, but unfortunately his poor skating and lack of puck skills have caught up to him, as teams expect him to be able to drive play and he simply cannot. And since Rask cannot produce without good linemates, he's expected to provide defensive value. Unfortunately, though, Rask does not have the strength or work ethic to win board battles consistently and transition into a shutdown role, and as a result he loses even more value. So, Rask is an offense-only player with poor skating, hands, and overall instincts, as well as a proneness to inconsistency. This means that he is a player who would be a liability in a top-6 role but a waste as a bottom-6 two-way center, as he cannot fit in that role. So, he's a "top-6 or bust" center who can't play in the top-6. That's another way to say "AHL scorer," and unfortunately for Rask I'm very pessimistic about his chances. Sure, his $4MM cap hit until 2023 makes it a little harder to feel bad for him because he's at least being incredibly well compensated for his efforts, but the fact that a GM would give up on such a promising top-6 winger like Nino Niederreiter for a player who I can't see having a role on a team that would help that team win is astounding. He's not a 2C or a 3C because he can't skate well enough or produce consistently enough to stick in a scoring role, and he's not a defensive 4C because he's not a good defender. As a result, he's just in a limbo, and I hope for Wild fans' sake that Bruce Boudreau can find a role for him that he can play capably, so that his decently sizable contract doesn't become a complete anchor.
Although he did score 45+ points in two straight seasons in his early twenties, Victor Rask is not that same player. A damaging hand injury and a trade to Minnesota have both severely hurt his value on the ice and his inability to win over coaches and produce consistently have made him a true negative-value asset. Rask used to be able to hang on with skilled teammates and produce thanks to their abilities, but unfortunately his poor skating and lack of puck skills have caught up to him, as teams expect him to be able to drive play and he simply cannot. And since Rask cannot produce without good linemates, he's expected to provide defensive value. Unfortunately, though, Rask does not have the strength or work ethic to win board battles consistently and transition into a shutdown role, and as a result he loses even more value. So, Rask is an offense-only player with poor skating, hands, and overall instincts, as well as a proneness to inconsistency. This means that he is a player who would be a liability in a top-6 role but a waste as a bottom-6 two-way center, as he cannot fit in that role. So, he's a "top-6 or bust" center who can't play in the top-6. That's another way to say "AHL scorer," and unfortunately for Rask I'm very pessimistic about his chances. Sure, his $4MM cap hit until 2023 makes it a little harder to feel bad for him because he's at least being incredibly well compensated for his efforts, but the fact that a GM would give up on such a promising top-6 winger like Nino Niederreiter for a player who I can't see having a role on a team that would help that team win is astounding. He's not a 2C or a 3C because he can't skate well enough or produce consistently enough to stick in a scoring role, and he's not a defensive 4C because he's not a good defender. As a result, he's just in a limbo, and I hope for Wild fans' sake that Bruce Boudreau can find a role for him that he can play capably, so that his decently sizable contract doesn't become a complete anchor.
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