Erik Rasmussen (ice hockey)

Erik Wayne Rasmussen (born March 28, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey player.

Erik Rasmussen
Born	(1977-03-28) March 28, 1977 (age 47) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres Los Angeles Kings New Jersey Devils Ässät
National team	United States
NHL draft	7th overall, 1996 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1997–2009

Early life

Rasmussen was born in Minneapolis. He won the Minnesota Mr. Hockey award in 1995 as the best high school player in Minnesota. He played for the University of Minnesota for two years.

Career

Rasmussen was drafted in the first round, seventh overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.^[1] He then played for the Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. During the 2007–08 season he played for New Jersey's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Devils, and then signed a contract for the 2008–09 season with Porin Ässät of the Finnish SM-liiga.

While with Porin Ässät organization, Rasmussen appeared in 31 regular season games recording one goal and eight assists. Ässät finished 12th in the league and competed in the play-out to decide which team goes into the relegation series against a Mestis, the second-tier league, club. Ässät lost the play-out and had to play against Vaasan Sport in the relegation series. In total Rasmussen played 13 games of play-outs and relegation putting up four goals and five assists for nine points. In the seventh game of the relegation series, Rasmussen scored Ässät's first goal, assisted on the third and Ässät got to keep their place in the SM-liiga.^[2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992–93	St. Louis Park High School	HS-MN		23	16	24	40	50		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	St. Louis Park High School	HS-MN		18	25	18	43	80		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	St. Louis Park High School	HS-MN		23	19	33	52	80		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	University of Minnesota	WCHA		40	16	32	48	55		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	University of Minnesota	WCHA		34	15	12	27	123		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Rochester Americans	AHL		53	9	14	23	83		1	0	0	0	5
1997–98	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		21	2	3	5	14		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Rochester Americans	AHL		37	12	14	26	47		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		42	3	7	10	37		21	2	4	6	18
1999–2000	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		67	8	6	14	43		3	0	0	0	4
2000–01	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	12	19	31	51		3	0	1	1	0
2001–02	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		69	8	11	19	34		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		57	4	12	16	28		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	New Jersey Devils	NHL		69	7	6	13	41		5	0	2	2	2
2005–06	New Jersey Devils	NHL		67	5	5	10	32		9	0	0	0	8
2006–07	New Jersey Devils	NHL		71	3	7	10	25		11	0	0	0	14
2007–08	Lowell Devils	AHL		26	2	3	5	14		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Ässät	SM-l		31	1	8	9	60		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				545	52	76	128	305		52	2	7	9	46

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996	United States	WJC		6	0	1	1	16
1997	United States	WJC		6	4	5	9	4
2002	United States	WC		7	0	1	1	2
Junior totals				12	4	6	10	20

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Rookie Team	1995–96

References

1. Maiorana, Sal (2012). 100 Things Sabres Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-62368-015-2.
2. "Kasitien herruus Poriin, Ässät-Sport 3-0". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2009-04-11. Retrieved 2023-09-06.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Sporting positions
Preceded by Martin Biron	Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 1996	Succeeded by Mika Noronen