Rasmus Dahlin has recorded 12 assists in the last nine games. ©2025, Micheline Veluvolu

Rasmus Dahlin growing into new role as Sabres captain, on offensive tear

BUFFALO – On Sunday, a day off for the Sabres, captain Rasmus Dahlin put on his snowsuit and cheered on the Bills during their 31-7 thumping of the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium.

With Saturday afternoon’s ugly 6-2 loss still fresh in his mind, the AFC Wild Card game in chilly Orchard Park offered Dahlin a bit of a diversion amid the Sabres’ struggles.

“Trying to get my mind off hockey for a day,” Dahlin told the Times Herald following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “Tried to just go and do something else.”

Dahlin, 24, takes losing hard, and the Sabres have dropped 27 of their 43 games this season (16-22-5). They began Monday’s schedule last in the Eastern Conference and nine points out of the final wild card spot.

In Saturday’s setback to the hapless Seattle Kraken, the Sabres led 2-0 before falling apart.

Following the contest, Dahlin, as he often does, spoke his mind, calling the loss “brutal.” Just the sour expression on his face conveyed his disgust.

It’s a scene that has played out several times this year as he grows into his new role.

Chances are Dahlin, who earned the captaincy prior to the season, expressed some his unhappiness to his teammates.

“I do talk more,” he said of being captain. “I’m more comfortable. I’ve gotten forced into being more vocal, take bigger responsibility. But I’m learning the new things every day. I’m excited for the future.”

The Swede has often talked about his desire to have more on his plate, so he embraces the extra duties that accompany the captaincy.

“It’s new, for sure,” he said. “I love it. I love having responsibility. But I’m three months in. I have a lot to learn still, but I’m enjoying it.”

He added: “You have to really bring your all every single day. It’s bigger than yourself. So it’s a special feeling.”

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Dahlin has tried to wrap his arms around the job.

As the Sabres have hit the skids, the ultra-talented defenseman has sometimes tried to do too much. Long before general manager Kevyn Adams awarded him the prestigious letter, he often put too much pressure on himself.

Old habits can be hard to break.

“As a captain, I think he puts a lot of weight on his shoulders for everybody, and I think he understands he’s captain for everybody,” Ruff said. “Every player that puts the jersey on, he’s their captain. I think sometimes in some ways, there’s been games where he’s gotten just too wound up.

“But there’s been games where he’s just tried to take over and make the difference, be the guy that I’m going to lead the way, I’m going to do the right way, play the right way. Vocal on the bench. Even last game, vocal after those two goals went in.”

Dahlin’s words hold extra meaning because he backs them up on the ice. He’s the Sabres’ most valuable skater and most talented player.

When he missed time last month battling back spasms, they went 0-7-2.

He instantly transformed them when he returned around Christmas, helping them break the puck out with ease and igniting their power play, which has scored at least once in seven of the last 10 games.

In his second game back Dec. 23 – he sat out once following his return to rest – he recorded a career-high four assists, helping the Sabres beat the New York Islanders 7-1 and end their 13-game winless skid.

Naturally, Ruff leans on Dahlin heavily, skating him 24 minutes, 32 seconds per game, the NHL’s 12th-highest average.

“You want to be out on the ice,” Dahlin said of earning so much action. “You have to take every shift like it’s the first one. The next shift has to be the best one. You can’t really focus on what happened. You just got to move on, move on, move on. Try to keep it simple out there.”

Dahlin, of course, possesses so much skill he can make difficult plays look easy. Right now, he has a career-long five-game assist streak. The 12 assists he has registered in the last nine games are the NHL’s second-highest total during that stretch.

He has also compiled a minus-2 rating four times in the last six contests.

“I’m creating,” he said of his game. “It’s OK. I want to play better. I want to do better. I’m not satisfied at all.”

Ruff said Dahlin’s “game has been good.”

“I think he’s had some ups and downs like a lot of our guys inside the game,” he said. “He had a couple of errant plays last game that he’d like to have back. But his overall game, the reason our power play has been a lot better, I think we got to give him a lot of credit for that.

“We’ve been breaking the puck out pretty consistently, and you got a guy like that to go back and he can use his legs, he can use deception. He’s really helped us in that area, too.”

Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who has missed the last two games because of illness, practiced Monday.

Ruff said Samuelsson could play Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

4 thoughts on “Rasmus Dahlin growing into new role as Sabres captain, on offensive tear”

  1. I don’t see Dahlin as a Captain.
    I don’t think it fits his personality. He was probably given the C, because he was the Overall #1 pick and is signed long-term.
    It’s clear to me, this team has a leadership problem. Sabres are the youngest team in the league, and it shows.
    This clearly falls on GM Adams.
    His vision of building a playoff caliber team is obviously flawed.
    Look at how small & soft this team is. Seriously, does anyone think this team can win consistently with Krebs, Benson, Peterka, Quinn ? They’re all Smurfs.
    Why would anyone want to play for Buffalo ? They don’t make the playoffs. They have failed in the GM and coaching hires. The climate and nightlife are not desirable compared to other cities. The takes in NY suck.
    This team needs Vets. Zucker and Malenstyn have been very good. McLeod, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel
    so-so. This team needs Size. This team needs Big Bodies that can skate. We have the weakest team in the NHL !!
    Power & Cozens need to go. This team needs to be shaken up. Mediocrity and lack of effort cannot be tolerated. There must be accountability. And that starts with GM Adams
    Adams needs to be fired !!!
    End of story !!

  2. As Sabres fan I hear what your saying. I wouldn’t mind seeing a trade ( if possible ) for a vet forward with drive and heart of a Jason Zucker. Not sure many teams are offering that type of player lately though. In the summer, We almost had Necas signed, but he refused the trade to Buffalo and that would been a great addition. Power and Cozens have size but are kids with best years ahead of them. Power is unique talent but very young. The top defensemen in NHL are not big tough guys, their names are Hughes, Makar, McAvoy, Fox, Morrisey, Toews. However, adding a power forward is
    something Sabres know they need. And replacing Bryson and Jokihaju would be nice. So while I do put blame on Adams, he isn’t dumb and has tried to add pieces that just have not helped. BTW, Eric Robinson? He is doing well in Carolina. Additionally, the 4th liners like Malenstyn etc don’t drive the team, the core does. And Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Dahlin, and when he is healthy, Jordan Greenway are play drivers who need to improve. Especially Thompson, who plays well and then has mental lapses or stops skating or going to net. Also Kulich will be a good one. It is a bad time for team for many reasons, but, Pegula isn’t selling, and Adams probably is not going to be fired, so getting rid of players just for sake of change or to try upgrade in size won’t do much of anything.

  3. I certainly dont see Power as a “unique talent” like you do. I see a guy who the scouts got it wrong on. I’m a believer in what you see is what you get. I see Power as “SOFT”. He never fights, he never hits, and he never moves anyone. Byram has more toughness and passion than Power has ever shown. I’ve seen Power miss countless plays.
    Im also a believer in a player not changing their spots. In other words, Power is always going to be soft. It’s in his DNA. He is not deserving of a long-term contract @ $8.3 million/year IMO.
    I would give that contract to Byram and trade Power to the highest bidder.

    1. Fair comments. I see the ingrained character also. And he will never be a Chris Pronger. ( the scouts who predicted that should know better ) I like Power cause he can do what many his size on defense cannot. He sees all ice and makes smart plays and passes. His skating for that size is excellent and will get much better. He is a kid though, and has to grow skill and size and speed in one package. A good example of what can happen to an NHLer is Same Reinhart. He is 6’1” and nearly 200lbs, but since day he arrived in Buffalo has been soft. He was always pushed around and easily lost control of the puck in key moments. Last year at roughly age 28-29 he finally grew into a real NHL player and isn’t easy to move off the puck and isn’t afraid to go into corners. He plays with confidence that was not seen before in Buffalo. Mind you he has team toughness and couple best line mates in NHL now also.
      Point is that Owen has done good job going against some best players in NHL and with his skating ability, puck handling, he will be a star dman in this league. It takes time. Some develop quick but most take while. But as a hockey fan am sure you know all this.
      I like Byram also and he is just starting to come into his own. He was the 4th or 5th option on Colorado and now has chance to develop.
      I hate current run by Sabres. So hopefully the good days are not too far ahead of us.

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