Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had an All-Star season in 2021-22, and he’s followed up with an encore in 2022-23.
Last week, we learned Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin would not return to the NHL All-Star Game. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t followed up last year’s successful outing. In fact, Dahlin has been better, if anything else, than he was this time last season, and started early when he scored five goals in his first five games, the most ever for a defenseman.
Now, Dahlin has 14 goals, 39 assists, and 53 points, matching his career high in points in just 45 games. With his tremendous output in 2022-23, he is also on pace to set a franchise record at the position.
In 1989-90, former Sabres great Phil Housley set the franchise record in points by a defenseman with 81, and that record has stood ever since. This season, barring anything unforeseen, Dahlin should break that record, as he is currently on pace to hit 93 points, 25 goals, and 68 assists.
Rasmus Dahlin on pace to break multiple Buffalo Sabres records
In 2001-02, Alexei Zhitnik saw 2,099:31 of ice time, setting a franchise record that has gone untouched over the past two decades. Dahlin currently has 1,203 minutes of ice time (26:14 per game), putting him on pace to shatter that record with 2,118 minutes.
Dahlin has also been one of the Blue and Gold’s most aggressive players, routinely standing up for teammates and laying bone-crunching hits onto opponents. His physicality has him pacing the team in hits (65) and blocks (83). He’s also first in penalty minutes with 62, nearly doubling that of Ilya Lyubushkin (32), who currently holds the second spot.
Overall, Dahlin is on pace to set some franchise records at both the position and overall. And given his aggressive, two-way approach to the game, look for him to lead the Sabres in several categories this season that include hits, blocks, and penalty minutes. Dahlin has played with an edge that season, and that edge will only grow as we reach the final two and a half months of the season.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Article Source: Breakout in Buffalo: How one simple change let Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin unlock his potential by Adam Vingan
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