Rasmus Dahlin has been named the new captain of the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Thursday afternoon. Dahlin’s leadership group is completed by alternates/assistants Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens and Mattias Samuelsson.
Dahlin, 24, is the logical and sensible choice for the team’s new captain. A 2018 draft pick of the Sabres, Dahlin has sported by the Buffalo colors since the ripe age of 18 and has become not only a steady, reliable presence on the blueline, but also in the locker room and on the bench. He has quickly blossomed into a leader – perhaps expected from a former first-overall draft pick – and now, he’ll have the letter to prove it.
Last season, Dahlin skated in 81 games and had 59 points, including 39 assists. He has appeared in 436 NHL games to date, all with Buffalo, and notched 292 points while averaging 23:07 ice time each night. In each of the last two seasons, he played (on average) over 25 minutes a game.
If you weren’t already hyped for the season, this should do it. The Sabres enlisted the help of beloved Buffalo Bills quarterback (and captain) Josh Allen for this video introducing Dahlin’s new role: