Buffalo Sabres: Will Rasmus Dahlin build off of a strong 2021-22 season?
By Sion Fawkes
What may keep Dahlin from emulating his 2021-22 success
There is no doubt in my mind that Dahlin will remain arguably one of the best players on the Buffalo Sabres, even if he does not emulate his success from 2021-22. But, we also need to consider the possibility that he may not end the season as the team’s best defenseman.
Mattias Samuelsson will most likely pair with Dahlin. And we need to remember that the former’s potential is limitless, given his efficacy in playing in the defensive zone well and throwing opponents off their game. Samuelsson is not a two-way player, so he may never reach the same level as Dahlin, but he does have the potential to grow rapidly as a player and perhaps contribute more on offense as a result.
Owen Power, however, is a two-way player who could supplant Dahlin as the top defenseman this season. While the idea is far-fetched since Power has experience in just eight NHL games, the idea is at least worth running by. Power proved he could score, block shots, take away the puck, and force opponents into making contingency plans.
As mentioned, I highly doubt Power or Samuelsson would substantially cut into the production Dahlin enjoyed in 2021-22. But the possibility is there, and it could, in turn, lead to Dahlin becoming a less effective player.
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Overall, my projection is that Dahlin will see his first 60-point season while his defensive skills continue to come into their own. 100-plus blocks and over 150 hits are likely, and if he can register a high number of takeaways, look for Dahlin to evolve into one of the league’s best defensemen in 2022-23. If he hasn’t already done so.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)