Buffalo Sabres: 3 players who have something to prove in the final weeks
By Sion Fawkes
Rasmus Asplund
The 33rd overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, Asplund has yet to perform to expectations. He’s averaging more ice time this season than any other time in his career at 14:28, but he has little to show for it.
In 71 games, Asplund has just 24 points and a 5.3% shooting percentage. He also lacks physicality and the ability to consistently win face-offs. Overall, Asplund is a fringe hocky player who, on most rosters, would find himself on the top scoring lines in the AHL.
Does this mean, with potentially players like Peterka and Quinn entering the NHL ranks, that Asplund will be playing elsewhere in 2022-23? The answer is, probably not.
Asplund’s contract runs through 2023, and it won’t cost the Sabres to keep him around. However, unless he proves otherwise during the last nine games of the season, don’t expect Asplund to play much of a role next year.