In 2022-23, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had an outstanding season, but he wasn’t listed as a finalist for the Norris Trophy.
The Athletic had some kind words for the Buffalo Sabres in their “Way-Too-Early-Predictions,” listing them as a potential dark horse Cup winner and to make the playoffs. But they didn’t stop there, as they also projected defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to seriously contend for the Norris Trophy in 2023-24.
Last year, Dahlin took eighth place for the Norris, which was beyond disappointing considering how well his season went. Arguably the Sabres top blueliner, Dahlin finished the year with 73 points, 15 goals, and 58 assists, plus 25:48 of average total time on ice.
However, injuries struck and Dahlin was thought to be playing through them as the Blue and Gold battled for a playoff spot in March and April. This likely contributed to his decline in production, as he scored just 10 times between March 6th and April 14th, and his ultimate snub from finishing in the top five for the honor.
The Athletic believes Buffalo Sabres blueliner will contend for Norris
Dahlin received 3.2% of the vote to win the Norris, tied for fourth with Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins. Cale Makar received the highest percentage of votes with 74.2%, while Miro Heiskanen clocked in at number two with 12.9%. Adam Fox of the New York Rangers took third place in the voting at 6.5%.
Dahlin is 23, and he’s just now scratching the surface of his prime. He’s seen major jumps in production over the past two seasons, as his 73 points were a 20-point increase from his previous career high of 53 that he snagged in 2021-22.
If Dahlin stays healthy in 2023-24, it’s likely that he can more than contend for the Norris, given the 63 points he scored between October 13th, 2022 and March 4th, 2023. Had he not dealt with ailments, chances are he would have kept up that production, and even if he wasn’t a finalist last year, he could have easily landed a top five finish.
Source: Way-too-early predictions for the NHL 2023-24 season: Stanley Cup winner, dark horse, playoff field, awards, more by The Athletic Staff, TheAthletic.com
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)