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Buffalo Sabres: 3 players poised for a breakout season in 2022-23

By Sion Fawkes

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Mattias Samuelsson #54 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Sabres 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Mattias Samuelsson #54 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Sabres 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Sabres
Sweden’s forward Rasmus Asplund vies with Latvia’s goalkeeper Arturs Silovs (R) during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships preliminary round group B match between Sweden and Latvia at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, on May 24, 2022. – Finland OUT (Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) /

Player #2: Rasmus Asplund

Asplund looked like he was poised for a breakout season last year, but his 27 points in 80 games impressed no one. However, he was lethal on the forecheck and always seemed to find the right teammate when passing the puck, making him an incredible gadget player.

However, Asplund has been one of the most valuable if not the most valuable player so far in the IIHF World Championships. Through seven games, Asplund has six goals, three of which came on the power play. He also scored two game-winning goals.

Is this a foreshadowing of things to come in Buffalo? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves with a six-game sample size in a tournament full of players whose teams did not make the playoffs. But it does show that Asplund has potential to put on a breakout performance next season.

At worst, expect Asplund to remain an integral part of the Sabres third line. But if he performs well enough, don’t be surprised if he sees playing time with the second scoring line.

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