This morning, the Buffalo Sabres announced that Rasmus Asplund, Scott Wilson, and Lawrence Pilut have been assigned to the Rochester Amerks. With the NHL All-Star Break (not the mention the Sabres’ “bye week”) taking place this coming week, these moves aren’t exactly a surprise.
Roster Moves: The Sabres have assigned forward Rasmus Asplund, forward Scott Wilson and defenseman Lawrence Pilut to the Rochester Americans (AHL).
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) January 19, 2020
For Pilut, there’s a good chance he’ll be recalled to Buffalo once the AHL All-Star Game is complete. The 24-year-old will represent the organization for the second consecutive year as the Amerks’ top blueliner. Though he has yet to register a point in his six appearances since his call-up earlier this month, he’s provide steady defensive play and excellent zone-exit capabilities, similar to what Sabres fans saw from him last season.
Asplund has been a bit of a mixed bag. Initially, he fared quite nicely with Johan Larsson out of the lineup. Even when Larsson returned to action, Asplund remained in Buffalo, and deservedly so.
The past couple weeks haven’t been as impressive for the 22-year-old. He’s gone 15 consecutive games without a single point, and he’s quickly become one of the team’s negative assets (among many others, mind you) in terms of expected goal-differential. Perhaps another stint in Rochester will be good for him in order to reset, and work on some things against lower-tier competition.
As for Wilson, his time as an extra body seems to be at an end, for now. Since his call-up at the beginning of the month, he’s only appeared in two contests, often serving as an extra forward with players like Victor Olofsson and Jeff Skinner out of the lineup. Skinner is expected to return after the bye week, so Wilson will likely remain with the Amerks as they push for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
These reinforcements for the Sabres’ farm club couldn’t have come at a better time. Rochester has lost eight of its last 10 games, and their current standing as a playoff team grows more unsteady by the day. Hopefully the return of these few players (for however long) helps them get back on the winning track.