Buffalo Sabres: Is Rasmus Dahlin an elite defenseman?
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has evolved into arguably the team’s best player. But does he rank among the NHL’s elite?
In 76 games played, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin ranks 12th among NHL defensemen in points and 16th in assists. Dahlin has also notched career highs in points (50), goals scored (11), and assists (39).
He has four games to notch a new career-high in shots on goal (158), and Dahlin also has career highs in blocks (86), hits (118), average total tice time (23:59), and shooting percentage (7.0). Even more amazing is that, among defensemen, he’s achieved all of the above at age 21, indicating his 2021-22 campaign is only a start.
Where does Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin rank?
With an All-Star Game under his belt plus solid statistics on both the offensive and defensive side of the puck, it’s safe to call Dahlin one of the most complete NHL defensemen. He still has flaws in his game as shown by his 49 giveaways and 64 penalty minutes, but the improvement since last season has been an astronomical one.
Following his first and second seasons with the Sabres, Dahlin showed flashes of greatness. However, last season he took a major step back, logging just 23 points in 56 contests. His 23 points, (-) 36 in the plus-minus, and 4.3 shooting percentage were career lows.
His improvement has easily ranked among the best regarding NHL defensemen. And his ability to contribute as a two-way player further increases his value. Overall, it’s safe to rank Dahlin among the NHL’s best. And it’s further safer to believe he will continue to climb into the top ten if not the top five at the position as he enters his prime.
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Next season, Dahlin will lead a group of defensemen that includes rookie Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Casey Fitzgerald, Jacob Bryson, and Henri Jokiharju, assuming all of the above stick with the Sabres. It will be interesting to watch his game evolve even further as he heads into the prime of his career.
(Statistics provided by NHL-Reference)