Rasmus Asplund
Position: Centre
Current Team: Farjestad BK, SHL
Date of Birth: December 3rd, 1997
Place of Birth: Filipstad, Sweden
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 176 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Rasmus Asplund is an interesting prospect in the 2016 draft class. Overshadowed in Europe by guys like Matthews and Laine, he grabbed attention at the World Juniors when William Nylander went down with a concussion, putting Asplund into the top line for Team Sweden. Scoring three goals and contributing five assists, Asplund received praise for his defensive play and skating ability, and has continued to impress as he returned to Farjestad. Even though he hasn’t been a prolific scorer in the SHL, his performance hints at a player who could become a strong puck possession guy in the NHL.
The biggest concern, aside from needing to add size, is that he has good skills, but it’s difficult to say if he’s great at any one thing. A jack of all trades but master of none – in some cases it leads to a player like Zetterberg or Peter Forsberg, who really can excel in any situation, but all too often it results at someone who never quite makes it to the top.
A Good Fit In Columbus?
Rasmus is an interesting guy, but the indications are that he’s going to need some time to develop. The Jackets need center depth, badly, but I have to wonder if they’re going to be looking for players who can make an impact in the next two years, not four or more. If he can become a Zetterberg kind of player, great, but if he can’t add weight or keep his game developing in the right direction, he’s likely to top out as a bottom six guy, and I don’t see the Jackets trading back (or trading back up from the second round) to make a run for him.