Dahlin Named Buffalo Sabres Team Captain

The Buffalo Sabres revealed on Friday what has been widely suspected since the trade of Kyle Okposo to Florida last March. The club announced on Friday that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has been named Sabres team captain.

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The 24-year-old led the Sabres in scoring with 59 points last season and reached the 20-goal mark for the first time. The Lidkoping, Sweden native was the NHL’s first overall pick in 2018 and signed an eight-year, $88 million contract extension last October.

“He does everything right, first and foremost,” Sabres head coach and former captain Lindy Ruff said in a team statement. “His on-ice action has been incredible, and I think he’s a guy that leads in every category, from the way he prepares himself to the way he plays and the fact that he’s a guy who cares about winning hockey games.”

Dahlin is the club’s best player and will be a fixture on the ice for years to come, and after Okposo’s departure, many of his teammates said that the big blueliner has assumed the mantle of leadership, including organizing off-season workouts this summer in Europe.

"You look at the age and experience of those players when Kyle got the C on his chest to where they are now. There's a big difference. Rasmus has elevated in every single way, on the ice, off the ice, physically. Just his voice, his confidence." GM Kevyn Adams said in March. "I think (our young veterans have) been mentored by some really good people, going back to Craig Anderson, (Eric) Johnson, and Eric Staal years ago…..They've gained experience from (them) and lessons, so it's their time."

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