FILE - Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin looks to pass during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, April 10, 2023, in New York. Dahlin鈥檚 emergence as a team leader and one of the NHL鈥檚 top offensive blue-line threats last season earned him an eight-year, $88 million contract extension on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, file)
FILE - Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin looks to pass during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, April 10, 2023, in New York. Dahlin鈥檚 emergence as a team leader and one of the NHL鈥檚 top offensive blue-line threats last season earned him an eight-year, $88 million contract extension on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, file)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥 Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin arrived in Buffalo from his native Sweden as a raw 18-year-old who could barely speak English, had little experience living away from home, and unprepared for the growing pains he鈥檇 face in maturing into a full-rounded player.
Some five years later, toughened by the adversity of spending his early years playing on a losing team that鈥檚 , Dahlin can鈥檛 think of a better place to stay for the long-term future than Buffalo after signing an eight-year, $88 million contract extension on Monday.
鈥淔irst of all, I grew up here as a man,鈥 the 23-year-old Dahlin said after practice.
鈥淚 had one or two rough years there, but I learned a lot and it made me a better person. It made me more of a competitor, a never-give-up mentality,鈥 he added, referring to a Sabres team that finished with a sub-.500 record during his first four seasons, including a last-place overall finish in 2020-21. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 actually very, very happy about those years.鈥
And the Sabres were more than happy to reward Dahlin鈥檚 emergence as a team leader and one of the NHL鈥檚 top offensive blue-line threats last season by making him their highest paid player in terms of annual salary. The Sabres placed such an emphasis on locking up Dahlin, the deal was completed with the player having one season left on a three-year, $18 million contract.
鈥淲e know we have a player in Rasmus Dahlin that we think will continue to get better for at least the next nine years,鈥 Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said. 鈥淎nd I think it sends a big statement to our team, our fans, of the commitment (ownership) made, and what he means to this organization.鈥
The timing of the signing removes any distraction from contract talks lingering into the season, with Buffalo preparing to open at home against the New York Rangers on Thursday. And it signifies the team鈥檚 optimism by locking up its most talented player and kicking off a season in which Buffalo finally and end a 12-year postseason drought.
Dahlin is but the latest member of what management has identified as part of its core group to sign a long-term deal.
It鈥檚 a group made up of centers Tage Thompson, who last year signed seven-year, $50 million contract, and Dylan Cozens (seven years, $49.7 million) and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (seven years, $30 million). And it鈥檚 expected to eventually include defenseman Owen Power, the first player drafted in 2021.
鈥淔or me, it's critical that these guys have made the commitment,鈥 Adams said. 鈥淚 think this sends a strong message to the league that this is going to be a special place to play moving forward.鈥
Though Buffalo extended its NHL-record playoff drought to a dozen seasons last year, the Sabres鈥 trajectory points up based on their young, developing talent, and after they fell a mere two points from qualifying for a postseason berth in April.
Upon arriving at training camp, Dahlin voiced his confidence in believing the Sabres are ready to become contenders by saying: 鈥淚t鈥檚 go time. I mean, we don鈥檛 have excuses anymore.鈥
Entering his sixth season, Dahlin is coming off a year in which he took a major step in displaying signs of the playmaking potential that led to the Sabres selecting him with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
His 15 goals were a career-best and most by a Buffalo blue-liner since Alexei Zhitnik scored that many in 1997-98. Dahlin鈥檚 73 points, also a career-best, were tied for fifth among NHL defensemen, and ranked third on the Sabres single-season list behind Phil Housley, who holds the top two spots with 81 in 1989-90 and 77 in 1983-84.
Overall, Dahlin鈥檚 232 career points ranked ninth on the NHL list among defensemen before their 23rd birthday.
Dahlin鈥檚 two most productive seasons 鈥 he had 13 goals and 53 points in 2021-22 鈥 have not coincidentally come under coach Don Granato, who has loosened the reins on his players in urging them to play without fear of making mistakes. That was a major switch from Granato鈥檚 predecessor, Ralph Krueger, who had Dahlin focus on playing a more defensive role.
Much like his production, Dahlin鈥檚 confidence has blossomed under Granato, who initially took over as interim coach after Krueger was fired in March 2021. Last season, Dahlin and veteran forward Zemgus Girgensons served as alternate captains, during Kyle Okposo鈥檚 first year as captain.
Dahlin now has even more reason to look forward to the season-opener and the buzz of the crowd on Thursday.
鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting all summer,鈥 Dahlin said. 鈥淚 hope they鈥檙e going to be loud. I know they鈥檙e going to be loud. So I can鈥檛 wait.鈥
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AP freelance writer Jonah Bronstein contributed to this report.
