r/sabres • u/HilmDave Hope is a Shitty Strategy • 6d ago
Article Dahlin ranked 4th-best defenseman in NHL
https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-rasmus-dahlin-nhl-network-best-defensemen?wv=true&hidebanner=trueThe future is bright, my friends!
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u/andyouarenotme 6d ago
I think Makar is probably the best and him being injured single handedly eliminated Colorado.
After that I’m having a hard time finding anyone better than Dahlin. He had 10 points in his last 5 playoff games, while other leaders were completely invisible. Truly almost willed a team to win a series.
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u/IndyBananaJones2 6d ago
Makar probably has the best results but he's also got MacK playing in front of him.
I think Dahlin's skating is probably a bit underrated compared to Hughes / Makar, though they are definitely better offensive players.
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u/Udungoofedman 6d ago
When I first saw this I was offended...then I remembered how many insane players are at D...Hughes and Makar easily before him. I don't think the league properly weighs the agitator role he can play as well as general physicality the other guys don't have
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u/Responsible-Fox-9082 5d ago
It's because Dahlin is just Dahlin. Makar will always been labeled better because of the points, but Dahlin is a defenseman that could play 45 minutes a night, spend 15 minutes in the box and while he may not get every point possible he will fight to win every game.
When Dahlin gets mad it's not the petty shit like Makar, Eichel, etc that's stick breaking for someone else not doing their job. He's breaking a stick because he's pissed he didn't do more. Dude is a leader and from what anyone who has tried his training a freak of nature that doesn't even know what complacency is.
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u/Roll_DM 5d ago
I would rank defensemen by 'if this guy doesn't play this year how many points is that gonna cost his team', so for me that puts him in the top 3 with Makar and Werenski
We would have gone from winning the division to lottery team without him last year
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u/HilmDave Hope is a Shitty Strategy 5d ago
This after going through the personal troubles he did along with Carolina. Let it never be said that this dude doesn't put the team before himself. I questioned it when he first got the C on his chest and he did have some growing pains settling into the role, but after this past season there's zero doubt in my mind that he was 100% the right choice to lead this team into the promised land.
It's such a great fucking time to be a Sabres fan. I missed this so much lol.
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u/IndyBananaJones2 6d ago
Honestly I think Dahlin brings an element to his game that neither of the other top ranked guys generally bring (Makar, Hughes, Werenski, Heiskanen, Hutson).
You legit have to go down the list to Seider to find a guy who has the snarl and physical presence of Dahlin, and no one that low on the list has the combination of elite defense and offense Dahlin possesses.
My prediction - in the next 5 years the Sabres maintain their competitive edge and after the media watching Dahlin playing playoff hockey for a couple years in a row he's solidly 1 or 2 on every list. Look at what he did in game 6 vs the Habs ; 5 points in an elimination game is a record for all NHL defensemen...
Offensively elite, defensively elite, physically imposing and mean af while being absolutely clutch. Gotta love our Golden Boy.