Sabres, Dahlin Agree to Terms
Three-year bridge deal for the young defenseman
On the first day of training camp, the Buffalo Sabres announced they’ve agreed to terms with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The three-year contract carries an AAV of $6 million.
IT’S DONE! 👊
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 22, 2021
We’ve agreed to terms with Rasmus Dahlin on a three-year contract with an AAV of $6 million.
Details: https://t.co/NqqhKJpHXv pic.twitter.com/yHQMA4WxCL
His last contract had an AAV of $3.775 million. Dahlin was the lone restricted free agent remaining for the Sabres. Per CapFriendly, the terms of the deal are as follows:
2021-22: $3M base salary + $2M signing bonus
2022-23: $5.8M
2023-24: $7.2M
It’s a bridge deal with one RFA year, and two arbitration-eligible RFA years. Dahlin will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the contract.
The terms of the deal also bring the Sabres to the lower cap floor, with $17.6 million in cap space tied up.
As we evaluate this deal, don’t forget to take a look back and read Joe Yerdon’s piece from August about what a new contract with Dahlin could look like.
So - what are your early thoughts on this deal? Did the Sabres overpay? Is a bridge deal a good idea, or a terrible idea? Could Dahlin wind up like Sam Reinhart in a few years?