What do you expect from: #74 Rasmus Asplund?

[dudacek]

Asplund was a bit of a prodigy growing up in Sweden, earning a full-time spot in the SHL as a 17-year-old and captaining their U17 and U18 national teams.

Never a particularly explosive scorer at any level, Asplund was touted more for his tenacity and hockey sense. Tim Murray traded up to pick him high in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft. He was a centre in Sweden and Rochester, but has spent most of his NHL time on the wing.

He struggled for most of the first half of his first year in North America, but broke through dramatically in the second half with the Amerks. He got an extended look with the Sabres in his second year over here, but couldn't quite make the leap effectively.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=176326

He barely played in the first three months of last season, spending most of his time as a taxi-squadder. But he flourished during the Granato reset, scoring 7 times mostly as the forechecker and defensive conscience on a line with Mittelstadt and Thompson.

What do you expect from Asplund this season?

[LabattBlue]

I think Asplund can be a solid 3rd line player going forward, who would not look out of place, if asked to occasionally fill a top 6 role. 

[Weave]

I don’t think he’s an NHLer in most organizations.

[Digger]

Didn't we already do one on Asplund?  Maybe that was when he signed.

I think that he will show to be the best value contract signed in the off season.  I think that he's a solid 3rd line player that is versatile to play center or wing.  He's looked good in preseason so far and there's not many players that have.  Play him with Ruotsalainen and have them share the center responsibilities (face offs, etc. to their strengths).

[PerreaultForever]

I'm not sure any more. I thought he would develop into a decent 2 way 3rd line-ish type player but he doesn't seem to have progressed. At this moment he is AHL level. 

[Pimlach]

3rd line energy guy