Line Of Dahlineation (sabres dahlin)

sabres dahlin

Line Of Dahlineation

By GARTH'S CORNER

Jun 2, 2018 • 9:26 am

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On a Chamber of Commerce Friday afternoon in Buffalo, NY, Rasmus Dahlin let it be known that he intends to be the foirst player selected at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas next month. Though he didn't come right out and say the words, Dahlin will be 100% okay with playing for the Buffalo Sabres, the winners of the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery.

The Sabres need Dahlin. Dahlin needs the Sabres.

It's a match made in Hockey Heaven.

The Sabres finished with a dreadful 31st place season in 2017-18. Dahlin hates losing. He detests it. Asked about how muh he hates losing, Dahlin said, "pretty much a lot".

Sabres fans love Dahlin. He's a winner and the Sabres haven't made the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011.

Dahlin also said if given the opportunity, he is ready to step in and play in the NHL right now.

"If I'm coming here, I would love to be here," Dahlin said Friday. "I hear they have great fans and everyone loves hockey here. It seems like Buffalo is a great city."

After the presser, Dahlin told me that he loves the four seasons of fantastic weather that Buffalo offers. Dahlin and his Team Sweden mates spent two weeks in Buffalo during the Christmas-New Years holidays at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. He's experience the sub-zero cold laake effect winter as well as the 90 degree sunny spring days.

"It (Buffalo weather) reminds me of being back home", he said.

Welcome home, kid.

Dahlin has been in Buffalo since last Sunday. He has intervoeewed with several NHL teams. He met with Jason Botterill and the scouting staff of teh Sabres on Thursady. Afterwards, Botterill gave the kid an up close and personal tour of the Sabres' world class training facilities and creature comforts at the arena.

Dahlin spoke freely, confidently and articulately with the media on Friday. He handled himself very well.

There was no language barrier. Dahlin told us that he hates losing, would love to play for a young, skilled team that is looking to make the climb from cellar dweller to NHL playoff team. The Sabres fit that bill and then some. Dahlin said he has watched highlights of Phil Housley's NHL career and he is very impressed by his future head coach's moves and decision making process on the ice during his NHL playing days. Dahlin said he would love to play in a five-man attacking system because it is the way to maximize his tremndous god-given gifts of balance, explosion, speed, skill, processing, vision and shooting.

Dahlin said his experience of playing for Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League has prepared him to make his next step to the NHL.

" I learned so many things," Dahlin said. "I was competing against men (in the SEL). It wasn't easy in the beginning. I learned, I did more weights and (worked on) my body. At the end of the season, I was feeling kind of comfortable on the ice. So, it was awesome last season."

Dahlin, who played top line center until he was 14, plays defense like no other player in the world today. He's agile, mobile and versatile. He is the best example of the modern one on one defenseman that I can think of. Dahlin said Friday he really likes watchung Ottawa Senators D Erik Karlsson skate and create. Dahlin has some of Karlsson's moves, however, is in a class all by himslef. Karlsson is not the defender that Dahlin is. Karlsson is a rover and plays like a fourth forward in the offensive attack. in my opinion, Dahlin is a more complete player than Karlsson is. Dahlin transports the puck with precision, pace, purpose and accuracy. He distributes the rock flawlessly. He defends in all three zones, has an active stick, blocks shots and creates his offense by staying in position and forcing the opponent to make turnovers. Dahlin will drop the hammer on an enemy forward with zero hesittaion. He likes the physical aspects of the NHL game.

Dahlin and the other prospects will participate in teh fitness testing segment of the Scouting Combine on Saturday.

**

Dahlin was joined by several of the other top rated prospects.

Brady Tkachuk

Andrei Svechnikov

Filip Zadina

Noah Dobson

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