While the Buffalo Sabres’ fans haven’t had much to cheer about in terms of making the NHL playoffs, but they can cheer on how young players have been developing during GM Kevyn Adams’ tenure.
One of those young players is a defenseman who, since being drafted No. 1, has improved as a leader off the ice. He’s always brought that with him to every game on the ice.
It’s the talented number 26 of the Buffalo Sabres, Rasmus Dahlin.
Take a look at how the young Swede has evolved into a full-time captain in the 716.
Before the defenseman was drafted in 2018, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers was the last defenseman to go No. 1 overall (2014) NHL Draft.
At the time, Ekblad was seen as a franchise-changing defenseman who, like Dahlin, had a high offensive motor and the potential to become a complete two-way NHL defender.
Fast-forward to today, and Ekblad has been part of a Panthers team that has become a dynasty, making back-to-back Stanley Cup finals appearances.
Four years later, another promising young defensive player, who was considered a franchise-altering player on the blue line, was selected in the draft.
While Ekblad was a success story, Dahlin has carved his own way into the NHL, becoming a franchise cornerstone for the Buffalo Sabres. After a few years of offensive explosion and one down season, the Sabres needed to look for a new coach with a track record of developing players.
In the 2022-23 season under the then-head coach Don Granato, Dahlin put up a Norris Trophy candidate type of season, and as a result, he earned the assistant captain role the following season.
The team would go 42-33-7 and miss the playoffs by one point, but for the team and Dahlin, things would be looking up down the road.
After the 2023-24 season, in which the Buffalo Sabres regressed to a 39-37-6 year and a 13th straight season of missing the playoffs, the Sabres fired Granato and brought back their old companion, Lindy Ruff, as their new head coach in 2024-25.
After Kyle Okposo was traded at the 2024 NHL deadline, the captaincy was open, and it was clear that no one had done more to earn it than number 26. Dahlin had now arrived in the NHL individually as a franchise cornerstone and a top defenseman.
This was Dahlin’s first year wearing the “C” on his jersey, and he showed more leadership and toughness from start to finish than in any other season.
The Sabres once again missed the playoffs for the 14th straight year, but the team can now go into the offseason and preseason feeling good about the type of individual leader Dahlin brings to his team.
Dahlin could improve on doing what Ekblad has done with the Florida Panthers, helping lead his team to the playoffs and eventually the Stanley Cup finals.
He could also have a better team around him (with a bit of help from the GM) for success to take flight with this current team.
Also, if the talented defensemen could eventually win at least one Norris Trophy for the league’s top defenseman, that would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest NHL defensemen of all time.
We all know that it is easier said than done, as he competes with players like Ekblad, Cale Makar, and Adam Fox. But if anybody can do it, it’s Dahlin.
Even though the Buffalo Sabres are in a 14-year playoff drought, there is no reason why they can’t end it in a league with so much talent.
Dahlin has taken quite an impressive journey. With 380 points in 509 games played (61-point pace per season), he is on track to break Phil Housley’s record (558 points). He only trails by 93 assists.
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