Just to compare... Larsson had better scoring numbers at similar points in his pre-NHL career. So project at one's peril.
They only have 3 RFA forwards and any of them would get picked up on waivers if they decided Asplund was ready.Man, I hope they aren't idiots and not qualify NHL players for the sake of change and thrust him into a role he may not be ready for yet.
They only have 3 RFA forwards and any of them would get picked up on waivers if they decided Asplund was ready.
Sorry, you'll never be able to convince me that a contract that couldn't be much more irrelevant to the cap situation is anything remotely worth caring about. Get back to me after this offseason, then maybe I'll come to your side depending on how it goes.
The point isn’t the cap, it’s that Botts thought Wilson was someone he needed to avoid arbitration with.
This is the same GM that thought Jordan Nolan belonged on an NHL roster.
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - The Sabres have to make a decision in June if they’re going to give qualifying offers to Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons. They’ve already signed European free agent center Arttu Ruotsalainen and have Rasmus Asplund down in Rochester.
Asplund had a rough start to his first professional season in North America. He's 21 and had played three years in the SHL before coming to Rochester.
The center had no goals and one assist in his first 16 games with the Amerks. When the Sabres moved up to get Asplund in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft, they talked about what a smart player he was. That came through as Asplund found his game and had 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points in 75 games. Asplund said there were many factors that helped him get better, “I think I really learned how to play my game at a really high pace. I think that was the one thing I was struggling with a little bit, but the longer the year went, I think I got more and more used to it and got comfortable doing things at a high speed.”
After playing on the larger ice in Europe, players like Asplund, Victor Olofsson and Lawrence Pilut had to get used to having less time to make plays. Asplund said, “I wouldn’t say it was hard, you had to take some time to get used to it like how certain players react in certain situations, so I just had to be a little patient with getting used to it.”
Amusing to see PHam walk back his first paragraph after being question about it on Twitter.
At least he didn't resort to his signature weak Twitter block move.
They better not send him down. He's been very good and looks comfortable at the NHL level.
Having him around allows them to keep Casey on the wing. Casey on the wing has been a better player than Casey at Center.
Careful now, that type of thinking is how we got Casey at center in the first place...
I'd rather Casey goes to Rochester and plays the minutes Asplund did on the first powerplay, regularly PKing, taking important starts in all three zones and get him used to being a high-end, productive professional player. Or they can leave him on the wing for 10 minutes a night and wonder why he is another in a long line of stunted picks.
As for Asplund, I hope he isn't sent back because he's the sort of useful depth guy we had hoped and dreamed he would be. Smart, well-positioned, quick, a little gritty... keep him up.
I know Botterill has lied to the fans about open competition before, but this offseason should be just that.