Rasmus Asplund Explained

Rasmus Asplund
Birth Date:3 December 1997
Birth Place:Filipstad, Sweden
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:183
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Florida Panthers
Prospect Team:Charlotte Checkers
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Färjestad BK
Buffalo Sabres
Nashville Predators
Ntl Team:SWE
Draft:33rd overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:Buffalo Sabres
Career Start:2014

Rasmus Asplund (born 3 December 1997) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (33rd overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Asplund made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with Färjestad BK during the 2014–15 SHL season.[2]

Following his fourth SHL season, Asplund signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres on 23 May 2018.[3]

On 16 September 2020, with the North American set to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Asplund remained in Sweden to begin playing on loan from the Sabres with Västerås IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan.[4] He recorded 9 points through 14 games in the second tier Allsvenskan before ending his loan and returning to the Sabres.

Asplund was considered one of the top two-way forward prospects in the NHL following the 2021–22 season. Asplund posted strong defensive metrics on his way to finish in the top 20 for the 2021–22 Frank J. Selke Trophy awarded to the top defensive forward.

In the following 2022–23 season, Asplund in a reduced role due to the Sabres emerging forward depth was limited to just 27 regular season games, collecting two goals and eight points. At the NHL trade deadline, Asplund was traded by the Sabres to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on 3 March 2023.[5]

Leaving the Predators after failing to receive a qualifying offer, Asplund was signed as a free agent on a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers on 5 July 2023.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14Färjestad BKJ203877141241010
2014–15Färjestad BKJ2019817251463470
2014–15Färjestad BKSHL35213430000
2015–16Färjestad BKSHL4648121630000
2016–17Färjestad BKSHL39613191050330
2017–18Färjestad BKSHL50820282060006
2018–19Rochester AmericansAHL751031412630000
2019–20Rochester AmericansAHL33316192
2019–20Buffalo SabresNHL291236
2020–21Västerås IKAllsv144596
2020–21Buffalo SabresNHL2874110
2020–21Rochester AmericansAHL30220
2021–22Buffalo SabresNHL808192710
2022–23Buffalo SabresNHL272680
2022–23Nashville PredatorsNHL190004
2023–24Charlotte CheckersAHL67935442231014
SHL totals17020426250170336
NHL totals18318314920

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014SwedenU176th51120
2014SwedenIH184th52134
2015SwedenU188th52358
2016SwedenWJC4th73256
2017SwedenWJC4th71670
2022SwedenWC6th86062
Junior totals 299132218
Senior totals 86062

Notes and References

  1. News: Sabres select Rasmus Asplund in the second round . Goods, Jack . Buffalo News . 2016-06-25 . 2016-06-29.
  2. Web site: Asplund makes senior debut . . 2014-11-02 . 2014-11-02.
  3. Web site: Johnston. Mike. Sabres sign forward Rasmus Asplund to three-year, entry level contract. sportsnet.ca. 23 May 2018 . 24 May 2018.
  4. Web site: . Asplund ready for VIK . 16 September 2020 . 16 September 2020 . Swedish.
  5. Web site: Predators acquire Rasmus Asplund from Buffalo . . 3 March 2023 . 3 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Panthers agree to terms with forward Rasmus Asplund . . 5 July 2023 . 5 July 2023.