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]

Rasmus Asplund
Asplund in 2020
Born (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 (age 26)
Filipstad, Sweden
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Florida Panthers
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Färjestad BK
Buffalo Sabres
Nashville Predators
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 33rd overall, 2016
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2014–present

Playing career

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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]

 
Asplund battling for position against Vince Dunn of the Seattle Kraken in 2022.

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

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Färjestad BK J20 38 7 7 14 12 4 1 0 1 0
2014–15 Färjestad BK J20 19 8 17 25 14 6 3 4 7 0
2014–15 Färjestad BK SHL 35 2 1 3 4 3 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Färjestad BK SHL 46 4 8 12 16 3 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Färjestad BK SHL 39 6 13 19 10 5 0 3 3 0
2017–18 Färjestad BK SHL 50 8 20 28 20 6 0 0 0 6
2018–19 Rochester Americans AHL 75 10 31 41 26 3 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Rochester Americans AHL 33 3 16 19 2
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL 29 1 2 3 6
2020–21 Västerås IK Allsv 14 4 5 9 6
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 28 7 4 11 0
2020–21 Rochester Americans AHL 3 0 2 2 0
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 8 19 27 10
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 27 2 6 8 0
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 19 0 0 0 4
2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL 67 9 35 44 22 3 1 0 1 4
SHL totals 170 20 42 62 50 17 0 3 3 6
NHL totals 183 18 31 49 20

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Sweden U17 6th 5 1 1 2 0
2014 Sweden IH18 4th 5 2 1 3 4
2015 Sweden U18 8th 5 2 3 5 8
2016 Sweden WJC 4th 7 3 2 5 6
2017 Sweden WJC 4th 7 1 6 7 0
2022 Sweden WC 6th 8 6 0 6 2
Junior totals 29 9 13 22 18
Senior totals 8 6 0 6 2

References

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  1. ^ Goods, Jack (25 June 2016). "Sabres select Rasmus Asplund in the second round". Buffalo News. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Asplund makes senior debut". Färjestad BK. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  3. ^ Johnston, Mike (23 May 2018). "Sabres sign forward Rasmus Asplund to three-year, entry level contract". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Asplund ready for VIK" (in Swedish). Västerås IK. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Predators acquire Rasmus Asplund from Buffalo". Nashville Predators. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Panthers agree to terms with forward Rasmus Asplund". Florida Panthers. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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