Rasmus Asplund finishes in the Top 10 for the Selke
One bold prediction regarding Asplund: Casey Mittlestadt will score more points per game. But Asplund is one of those players that doesn’t need to score to show off his value. Last season, he had a measly 27 points in 80 games while establishing himself as one of the games better defensive forwards.
In 2022-23, in his second full season with the Buffalo Sabres (he played as a part-time skater between 2019 and April 2021), Asplund made his mark known on the forecheck. He constantly won battles for the puck and logged the occasional takeaway.
Asplund played well in transition, and he also set plays in motion. In 2022-23, his efforts will land him into top ten consideration for the Selke. He will put the NHL on notice as one of the game’s premier defensive forwards and at such a young age, the Sabres should extend him to become an integral part of their budding team.