Rasmus Dahlin's third All-Star nod a source of pride for the Sabres defenseman

Dahlin challenges teammates if he doesn’t think they’re working hard enough. He’ll check and block shots to prevent them from scoring. And when Dahlin’s side loses in a small area game, he reacts as if the Buffalo Sabres had suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of a division rival.

“He’s obviously so good in practice, much like the game,” marveled Casey Mittelstadt, his teammate and close friend. “He’s so physical and so skilled. The combination is pretty rare. Definitely no fun to play against. It’s not fun at all.”

This season hasn’t gone like Dahlin envisioned. The 2018 No. 1 draft pick wanted to will the Sabres into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they are 16-19-4 after their win Thursday night in Montreal. He quarterbacks a power play that’s struggled to replicate its success from late in 2022, and he’s endured more frustrating nights in the defensive zone.

Still, Dahlin’s 11 goals are the most by an NHL defenseman, and he’s often the Sabres’ best player despite his immense workload and responsibility. And though Dahlin is more interested in elevating Buffalo to contender status, his individual success was acknowledged Thursday when the league announced him as one of the Eastern Conference's participants for the All-Star Game when it’s held at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 3.

Fans will vote for an additional eight skaters and four goalies – a draft will be held Feb. 1 in Toronto to determine the rosters – and they’ll also select four participants for the revamped skills competition.

"It's really cool," said Dahlin. "It's something you dream about when you're a kid. It's something you're really proud of. It means a lot."

This is Dahlin’s third consecutive All-Star appearance, though Tage Thompson was initially selected last season and had to bow out because of an injury suffered on the eve of his trip to Florida for the event. And it comes at a time when the defenseman has emerged as an important voice in the Sabres’ dressing room.

“Super-good person,” defenseman Erik Johnson said of Dahlin. “Wants the best for the team. Competitive guy. Hates to lose. Really big leader for us and kind of developing more of the vocal side of his leadership now, which is good to see. He’s one of the guys that drives the bus here and he really cares, and you can tell that he takes losing personally. That’s what you want. I think he’s definitely a top 'D' in the league and he’s really played like it. He plays those big, tough minutes. It’s tough to do. A lot of respect for his game and how much better has he gotten.”

Dahlin has only been in Buffalo for 5½ years, yet he’s already one of the most productive defensemen in Sabres franchise history. His 57 career goals are fourth all-time, only nine fewer than Jerry Korab, and his 264 points rank sixth. Only three other blue-liners in the team’s 54-year history have produced three consecutive seasons of at least 10 goals.

The position Dahlin plays lends to scrutiny. No one has the puck more often. No one plays more minutes. He’s always on the ice against the opponent’s top players. If a forward makes a mistake, it’s Dahlin and his partner who are put in a difficult position. It’s a role that Dahlin embraces, one in which he thrived last season.

Dahlin accumulated the eighth-most votes for the Norris Trophy in 2022-23 when he had 15 goals, 58 assists and 73 points. His 25:48 average ice time across 78 games ranked third among all NHL defensemen. The performance led Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams to sign Dahlin to an eight-year, $88 million contract in October. Dahlin was already placing immense pressure on himself to be the game-changing presence that Buffalo needed to build on its 91-point season. Signing the most lucrative deal in Sabres history likely exacerbated what he was feeling.

“Carries a lot of stress,” said Sabres head coach Don Granato. “Feels a lot of pressure as a result. Puts a lot on his plate, a lot on his back. You have to have certain conversations with him as a coach – what to let go and what to go after. He’s a leader and he pushes other guys. Part of the NHL, as a part of growing, is learning how to do that and become better at that and he is. … He certainly commands the respect of the room because of everything I just said.”

The production is worse than it was a year ago – in large part due to the Sabres’ struggling power play – but Dahlin is again showing that he’s developed into a well-rounded defenseman. He’s second on the team in shots on goal (114), hits (75) and blocked shots (74). He’s better at defending the rush and as aggressive as ever with the puck.

Dahlin hasn't been as consistent as he was last season, though the team's propensity to trail early in games hasn't helped matters. You could make a case that the NHL could have chosen one of Buffalo's forwards instead, particularly Mittelstadt, Jeff Skinner or JJ Peterka. Injuries have prevented Thompson and Alex Tuch from producing enough to be considered. But Dahlin has developed a reputation as one of the best young defensemen in the sport, a distinction that was enough to earn him the call.

It's not good enough in Dahlin's mind, though. Then again, nothing will be unless he leads the Sabres to their ultimate goal.

"I think he’s been great," said Mittelstadt. "I’ll be saying that every year, though. He’s been pushing us a lot in the room and I think he does a good job of balancing the line of leading by example and maybe a little bit more vocal, too. Maybe stepped up a bit in that way this year. It’s been something we’ve needed and he’s sets it by example every day. He works his bag off every day in practice and every day in the gym, so he has the right to say pretty much anything he wants at that point."