Buffalo Sabres: The Legend of Rasmus Dahlin continues
By Sion Fawkes
Rasmus Dahlin has evolved into one of the NHL’s best two-way players. And the Buffalo Sabres defenseman reached yet another milestone.
With 58 points in 52 games, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is enjoying an incredible season. He already achieved career highs in points, goals, and assists, but he’s about to break a record Phil Housley set in the 1980s.
Nearly 40 seasons ago, Housley put up 58 points in the Sabres first 60 games of the 1983-84 season. So unless Dahlin goes scoreless over the next seven games, expect him to set the record in the coming week, perhaps even on Saturday night when the Sabres skate into San Jose.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s season to remember
If you remember correctly, Dahlin scored five goals in five straight games to open up the 2022-23 season, an NHL record for a defenseman. He “only” scored nine goals since, but his 44 assists have kept his points total as among the best in the NHL at the position.
Following last night’s big win over the Anaheim Ducks, Dahlin’s 58 points are now second in the league, with his two assists in the game allowing him to pass Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, who has 56 points. Only Erik Karlsson (73 points) scored more than Dahlin this season.
With 58 points in 52 games, Dahlin is on pace to score 90 in 2022-23. But his scoring outburst isn’t the only thing to keep an eye on. The defenseman has morphed into one of the NHL’s most physical players, having amassed 66 penalty minutes, 88 blocks, and 69 hits.
Overall, the Sabres have one of the game’s best two-way players, and at just 22 years old, look for Dahlin’s play to keep reaching new milestones. Now the question bodes: Does Dahlin’s play foreshadow what we may see, productivity-wise, from Owen Power in a few seasons?
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Power has 19 points in 49 games, putting him on pace to snag 30 this season. And while that doesn’t seem like a lot, coaches have had Power focus more on his defensive game before anything else. So don’t be surprised if he also makes a big leap points-wise next season.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
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