Rasmus Asplund

Rasmus Asplund (born 3 December 1997) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (33rd overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Asplund made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with Färjestad BK during the 2014–15 SHL season.

Following his fourth SHL season, Asplund signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres on 23 May 2018.

On 16 September 2020, with the North American set to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Asplund remained in Sweden to begin playing on loan from the Sabres with Västerås IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He recorded 9 points through 14 games in the second tier Allsvenskan before ending his loan and returning to the Sabres.

Asplund was considered one of the top two-way forward prospects in the NHL following the 2021–22 season. Asplund posted strong defensive metrics on his way to finish in the top 20 for the 2021–22 Frank J. Selke Trophy awarded to the top defensive forward.

In the following 2022–23 season, Asplund in a reduced role due to the Sabres emerging forward depth was limited to just 27 regular season games, collecting two goals and eight points. At the NHL trade deadline, Asplund was traded by the Sabres to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on 3 March 2023.

Leaving the Predators after failing to receive a qualifying offer, Asplund was signed as a free agent on a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers on 5 July 2023.