Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has accumulated a few foundational pieces of a Hall of Fame résumé, including three NHL All-Star Game selections, but the coming months could see the standout defenseman accelerate his journey toward potential enshrinement.
Dahlin, whose 2025-26 campaign got off to an uncharacteristically sluggish start, returned to his typical elite level in mid-November with a stretch where he scored 19 points (three goals and 16 assists) in 18 games. He's tallied four goals and 24 helpers across 35 appearances this season.
His vastly improved play is one of the major reasons the Sabres, who previously sat in the Eastern Conference basement, are suddenly one of the NHL's hottest teams with a 10-game winning streak that's vaulted them into serious postseason contention in the East.
Along with trying to help Buffalo end its 14-year playoff drought, the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft will play a critical role for Team Sweden in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are scheduled to get underway in February.
Dahlin represented his home country in the 2018 Winter Games, scoring one point in two contests, and has also worn the Three Crowns in the World Juniors, World Championships and last season's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Rasmus Dahlin could emerge as one of hockey's most important players by leading Sweden and the Buffalo Sabres to new heights
Dahlin is one of the best defensemen in the world, a status he's maintained for the past handful of seasons, but making it to the Hockey Hall of Fame requires a lot more accolades than a few All-Star appearances and top-10 finishes in Norris Trophy voting.
His lack of a more complete résumé isn't entirely his fault, of course.
The Sabres organization has been a league-wide laughingstock for more than a decade, and he's often been asked to carry a roster with far less talent than the rest of the NHL, especially on the blue line. That's finally started to change this season.
In addition, NHL players didn't take part in the last two Olympics — Dahlin was still an undrafted prospect when he took part in the 2018 Games — so he didn't get a chance to shine on the biggest international stage as he was starting to break through in 2022.
That's why this year is so important for the 25-year-old Swede. A player who hasn't been able to compete in many high-profile games is suddenly going to take part in plenty of them between the Sabres' playoff push and the Three Crowns' Olympic run.
"Just a special player doing special things," Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon told reporters about Dahlin during the defender's recent hot streak.
Buffalo and Sweden are both going to need those special things to continue.
Most outlets currently have the Sabres as pretty close to a 50-50 shot to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in an incredibly crowded East. That does at least leave two paths to the postseason via an Atlantic Division spot or a wild-card berth, though.
Meanwhile, Sweden is viewed as a definite podium contender in the Milano Cortina Games but it'll face stiff competition from Canada, the United States and rival Finland, among others.
If Dahlin can lead the Sabres into the playoffs (maybe even win a round?) and help the Swedish squad earn a medal (maybe even gold?), he'll start collecting a few more of those necessary infinity stones to enter the Hall of Fame conversation at the end of his career.
In the meantime, Buffalo's next game comes Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Sweden opens its Olympic schedule Feb. 11 against the host nation of Italy.