The start of the regular season is only about a week away for the Buffalo Sabres. However, they have some big news to announce. That news is that Rasmus Dahlin has been named the captain of the Sabres. This makes him the 23rd captain in franchise history. It also makes him the fourth Swede captain active in the NHL. Dahlin joins Victor Hedman as the latest Swede to be named captain.
Rasmus Dahlin has been named Captain of the Buffalo Sabres! https://t.co/UGPOt7OcDu | #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/3J1JkaGOxB
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 26, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Name Dahlin Captain
For the last two seasons. Dahlin served as an alternate captain. At the time, Kyle Okposo was the one who wore the ‘C.’ However, he was traded by the Sabres to the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. The former Sabres captain went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Panthers. Hoisting the cup would be the last time he stepped on the ice as an NHL player as he announced his retirement this offseason.
Dahlin is a talented defenceman for the Sabres. The 24-year-old was selected first overall by Buffalo in 2018 and has provided hope to their fans ever since. He’s coming off two great seasons. In 2022-23, he scored 73 points and last season, he scored 59 points. Those are impressive numbers for a defenceman on a team that has struggled for a long time. Dahlin is young but is very mature in the way he handles himself, both on and off the ice. He hasn’t hit his mid-20s yet, and he’s already going into his seventh season in the NHL.
A New Era in Buffalo
Times are changing for the Buffalo Sabres organization, and not just because Dahlin is the new captain. There is a new list of alternate captains that the team released as well. Players to wear an ‘A’ this season are Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson, and Mattias Samuelsson.
Also, they brought in a new coach this season, who also captained the Sabres between 1986 and 1989. He goes by the name of Lindy Ruff, and he has high expectations for Buffalo. The Sabres hold the record in the NHL for most consecutive seasons, missing the playoffs. The last time they saw the postseason was in the 2010-11 season. Captain Dahlin will be looking to end that streak this year.
Main Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
