Rasmus Dahlin is now the new captain of the Sabres.
He takes over from Kyle Okposo, who was traded to the Panthers last season. Dahlin has been with the Sabres for seven seasons since being picked first in the 2018 draft. Previously, he served as an alternate captain for two years.
Dahlin’s promotion to captain comes as he starts his eight-year, $88M contract extension. Though it took some time for him to shine in the NHL, he’s now one of the top players. Over three years, he’s scored 48 goals and 185 points in 239 games with a -13 rating. His physical game has also improved with an average of 1.76 hits and 1.58 blocked shots per game .
Fans might feel this change brings fresh hope for better results this season.
Dahlin’s Impact on Buffalo
Dahlin’s significance to Buffalo can’t be overstated. In recent seasons, he’s consistently led in E+/- and ranked high in CorsiFor%. This shows that Buffalo performs best when he’s on the ice, highlighting his leadership skills which have now been officially recognized by making him captain.
The new head coach, Lindy Ruff, praised Dahlin saying, “[Dahlin] does everything right, first and foremost… He’s a guy that leads in every category… and cares about winning hockey games.”
What do you think about Dahlin becoming captain?
