Prospect Info: Rasmus Asplund (2016, 33rd) –- Loaned to Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan)

@UffeBodin - Joel Eriksson Ek will captain the Swedish U20 at the #WJC2017. Carl Grundström, Jacob Larsson and Rasmus Asplund serve as his assistants.

 

Very impressed with Rasmus's game today. He was all over the ice, added an assist and won 15 of 17 draws. Craig Button mentioned him with praise multiple times throughout the 3rd period. Very happy with this 2nd round pick.

 

He really does look like mini-ROR out there. tenacious & heady, 11/12 at the dot

 

It really blows my mind that this is the first time Asplund is being mentioned this year. The kid was Swedens best player last night in the 8-3 victory over Solvakia. 4 assists ! 7 points in 5 games. Solid move by Murray and if Kulikov becomes a 2nd at the trade deadline we easily win the trade .

 

Well it's only the 2nd day of the year

Yeah he looks like a composed player already at his age.

 

really hope he pans out so i dont have to listen to all the Pysyk trade anger

 

What is he currently projecting at? TOP-9? When do you guys think he'll be ready for the Sabres if he makes it?

 

I'd say he's a couple more seasons out. I'd like to see him in Rochester next year or the year after, though I'm not familiar with his contract situation. As for projection, hopefully a strong "middle six" type of player who can move around the line-up.

 

In my honest opinion, if he continues to trend the way he is...he is a better version of Larsson in every aspect (big IF). His game is best suited as being a tenacious 3rd line center...and a very good one at that.

You can think of him similar to ROR's game but not quite the offensive skill set yet...but he's definitely trending the right way.

I do NOT see him as a winger...he's one of the players that this team will need in deep playoff runs in a few seasons as our shutdown 3rd line center.

With that being said, I'd like to see him in Roc next season...and possibly with Buffalo the season after. It's going to be very telling how he transitions to the north american game when he's in roch. I'm not sure what his contract status is like the above post, but he's a very good prospect for us.

 

Actually, high end potential I see him as a faster version of O'Reilly.

 

He's got another year. Rochester (or Buffalo) in 2018 is the projection.

 

If he reaches that I'd be ecstatic

 

...unless he meant Cal.

 

Would be nice to see him start next season, with pairing up with Nylander in Rochester.

 

So, I watched Asplunds last four games of the season. He'd be a good player in the AHL by now, in the SHL I'd say he should be a middle six player. The team he's playing for is downright terrible though and he was put on the first line in the last game.

I really looked foward to watch him in the playoffs since really good performance in the post season normally means good NHL capabilities but the team was so bad that it was hard to make any judgement. The defenders literally could not get the puck out of their own zone during two of the games, it was like watching the SHL version of the Buffalo defense (with Nygren being the equalient to Ristolainen).

When he had the puck he made some smart plays at least.

Buffalo should sign him as soon as possible, he should be in Rochester. If he stays in Sweden he should be on another team but I doubt he would like that since he's been playing for Färjestad for 6 years.

 

@SabresProspects - Season over for Rasmus Asplund as Farjestad falls to HV 71 3-2, gets swept in SHL QF. #Sabres

@SabresProspects - If I'm Sabres, I let Asplund decompress, rest his bumps and bruises. Talk future plans/contract over summer.

 

There was some talk earlier this season that Asplund might be ready to head to North America, but it appears not based on this:

 

O'Reilly played in the NHL right out of the draft, so that would already make Asplund really really really far behind your lofty expectations. To me he looks like a carbon copy of Larsson without the bulldog frame.

 

That's exactly the way I see him as well...I can't get behind the huge expectations or excitement he generates around here. To me, there's room for Larsson or Asplund on the roster.

 

I think that has more to do with the recent push by Swedish Hockey officials to keep NHL prospects in Sweden instead of bringing them to the A than it does with his readiness.

A little disappointing, but if this is best for his development, then who am I to argue?

 

I wish he was coming over to center the top line in Rochester, and could potentially get a call up. But shouldn't be an issue in terms of his development.