He may have. I didn’t get to watch many back then since I only got CBC English and French. Had to wait until we played the Canadiens or Leafs
- lulags

I know he did periodically in his early years. Not sure about that year. All I could find was:

"Housley was so gifted offensively that Bowman also used him at center occasionally when he needed a spark. He had played center in youth hockey, but his high school coach Doug Woog had converted him to defense."


It's actually a minor miracle that Housley didn't do that with Dahlin

Point I have made several times. Only Housley and Orr had better rookie years as an 18year old Defensemen
- lulags

The adjustment as an 18 year to play in the league is usually slow, especially as a D man. After 10 games, Dahlin had 1 goal and 3 assists. Not bad at all as an 18 year old.

If he was playing is the 80s who knows how many goals he would've scored.... I'd guess he would've averaged 100 per season.
Dahlin still sucks because orr scored more goals as a rookie though.
- TheHank

The adjustment as an 18 year to play in the league is usually slow, especially as a D man. After 10 games, Dahlin had 1 goal and 3 assists. Not bad at all as an 18 year old.
- Lilroot9

But what about the hype? I want to hear about the hype!

But what about the hype? I want to hear about the hype!
- TheHank

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1INb5FM_1lE

Or u could just Lmk so i don’t have to waste the time?

Seems to me like that’s a rarity that teams play 4 RH defensemen on a nightly ?
- jdfitz77

hurricanes
jets
sharks for a long stretch last season

at a glance w/o putting thought into it

teams also lean on more lefties at times


the point is, it's not uncommon for 3 of the 4 minute eaters to be either lefties or righties on a really good nhl team


just because the pitch forks are out for risto to be moved, doesn't mean it's gonna happen


this D is better with one of the big 4 righties to be playing on the left with dahlin and mccabe

Jeff Skinner not a top 20 winger in the NHL according to the NHL network. I’m assuming I’m the only Sabres fan on this board that will not be shocked by this one bit.

Jeff Skinner not a top 20 winger in the NHL according to the NHL network. I’m assuming I’m the only Sabres fan on this board that will not be shocked by this one bit.
- Swedish_Jesus

If the team had won 10 more games, he'd be up there for sure.

Sorry ahead of time.

Here are the numbers of the top point getting defenders and their first few years in the league. I think Dahlin was right on projection. If you think he under performed, I am not sure if it was underestimated how quickly defensemen join the NHL after draft.

Brent Burns - 83 points - 34 years old - 6p in 36g rookie year (18 years old), second year 16p in 72g

Mark Giordano - 74 points - 35 years old - 1p in first 7g rookie year (21 years old), second year 15p in 48g

Morgan Rielly - 72 points - 25 years old - 27p in 73g rookie year (19 years old), 29p in 82g second year

John Carlson - 70 points - 29 years old - 6p in 22g rookie year (19 years old), 37p in 82g second year

Keith Yandle - 62 points - 32 years old - 2p in 7g rookie year (19 years old), 12p in 43g second year

Erik Gustafsson - 60 points - 27 years old - 14p in 41g rookie year (21 years old), 16p in 35g second year

Tyson Barrie - 59 points - 28 years old - 0p in 10g rookie year (20 years old), 13p in 32g second year

Kris Letang - 56 points - 32 years old - 2p in 7g rookie year (19 years old), 17p in 63g second year

Roman Josi - 56 points - 29 years old - 16p in 52g rookie year (21 years old), 18p in 48g second year

Thomas Chabot - 55 points - 22 years old - 0p in 1g rookie year (19 years old), 25p in 63g second year

Victor Hedman - 54 points - 28 years old - 20p in 74g rookie year (18 years old), 26p in 79g second year

Torey Krug - 53 points - 28 years old - 1p in 2g rookie year (20 years old), 1p in 1g second year, 40p on 79g third year (23 years old)

Jacob Trouba - 50 points - 25 years old - 29p in 65g rookie year (19 years old), 22p in 65g second year

Ryan Suter - 47 points - 34 years old - 16p in 71g rookie year (20 years old), 24p in 82g second year

Jeff Petry - 46 points - 31 years old - 5p in 35g rookie year (22 years old), 25p in 73g second year

Ryan McDonagh - 46 points - 30 years old - 9p in 40g rookie year (21 years old), 32p in 82g second year

Seth Jones - 46 points - 24 years old - 25p in 77g rookie year (18 years old), 27p in 82g second year

John Klingberg - 45 points - 26 years old - 40p in 65g rookie year (22 years old), 58p in1 76g second year

Drew Doughty - 45 points - 29 years old - 27p in 81g rookie year (18 years old), 59p in 82g second year

Erik Karlsson - 45 points - 29 years old - 26p in 60g rookie year (19 years old), 45p in 75g second year

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - 44 points - 28 years old - 11p in 48g rookie year (19 years old), 32p in 82g second year

Zach Werenski - 44 points - 22 years old - 47p in 78g rookie year (19 years old), 37p in 77g second year

Rasmus Dahlin - 44 points - 18 years old - 44p in 82g rookie year (18 years old)

Mattias Ekholm - 44 points - 29 years old - 0p in 2g rookie year (20 years old), 32p in 59g second year
- Lilroot9

So basically dahlin is good... Gotcha...

So basically dahlin is good... Gotcha...
- hehateme

Nope. Somebody else scored more goals a long time ago therefore he is overwhelmingly underwhelming.

Jeff Skinner not a top 20 winger in the NHL according to the NHL network. I’m assuming I’m the only Sabres fan on this board that will not be shocked by this one bit.
- Swedish_Jesus

Not shocked one bit... However I could also give two shats what the NHL network says. If he scores 30-40 a year for the next 5 years I'm a happy camper...

Nope. Somebody else scored more goals a long time ago therefore he is overwhelmingly underwhelming.
- TheHank

yeah, that's right. can we trade him for a 3rd rounder or do you think that too high of an asking price?

hurricanes
jets
sharks for a long stretch last season

at a glance w/o putting thought into it

teams also lean on more lefties at times


the point is, it's not uncommon for 3 of the 4 minute eaters to be either lefties or righties on a really good nhl team


just because the pitch forks are out for risto to be moved, doesn't mean it's gonna happen


this D is better with one of the big 4 righties to be playing on the left with dahlin and mccabe
- homiedclown

I’m pretty sure you’re wrong here sir

Winnipeg
RH- Byfuglien, Trouba, Myers
LH- morrissey, kulikov, chiarot, morrow, beaulieu, niku
*that’s every defenseman who played more than 5 games for them

Looks like Tim Heed was the Sharks 4th RH guy & played in 37games
Karlsson only played in 53games though
So there may have been some overlap,
but that clearly wasn’t the norm for them

Carolina looks accurate from what i can tell

It looks very rare that NHL teams have the depth on the right side to do it
It’s definitely not “many teams”

*Gerbe was also wrong about Vegas
They only had 2 RH defensemen play for them all year (Miller & Engelland)

OF COURSE...
that doesn’t mean we can’t do it
We very well could

That would leave Pilut in Rochester again though,
or on the bench
Or maybe Botts plans on starting Jokiharju in Rochester?

It’s gonna be interesting to see how this plays out
Bc we do have an abundance of defensemen right now

If we just iced the 6 best, regardless of handedness...

Dahlin(L), Ristolainen(R), McCabe(L), Montour(R), Miller(R) are obviously sure things

Bogosian(R) & Pilut(L) apparently will miss the start of the season, but idk how much longer?

So that leaves Scandella(L) & Jokiharju(R) for opening night

And i better not forget Nelson(R),
but it seems to me that he’ll be the 7/8 guy & not really factor in much

Certainty gives us plenty of options 1 way or the other
But unless some guys are traded...
seems like Jokiharju & Pilut will be sent down when everyone is healthy

So basically dahlin is good... Gotcha...
- hehateme

I can’t believe this thread is still about dahlin being overrated.

The kid was 18 and our best defensemen. 18 year freaking year. He made some plays that only we could dream of

But what ever.

It's a big part of why Gretzky's records will never be broken. Obviously also because he was great
- jcragcrumple

This statement exactly is why I think Ovechkin is the greatest goal-scorer of all-time.

I'm expecting 60-70 points from Dahlin this year.
- thatsapickle

That's a bit much

Expect some growing pains and anywhere from 40-60, but he won't be sniffing 70 so soon.

I know he did periodically in his early years. Not sure about that year. All I could find was:

"Housley was so gifted offensively that Bowman also used him at center occasionally when he needed a spark. He had played center in youth hockey, but his high school coach Doug Woog had converted him to defense."


It's actually a minor miracle that Housley didn't do that with Dahlin
- jcragcrumple

Dahlins draft year .... a scout did he say even if he was a forward. He’s a generational talent and could play both

He has 240 goals to go

6 more 40 goal seasons
- jcragcrumple

Or, 10 more 25 goal seasons.

He will be playing into his 40's like Jagr. Hopefully he doesn't go to the KHL, like Jagr. It would be unquestionable who the no. 2 greatest behind Greatzky is, if Jagr hadn't left the NHL.

Or, 10 more 25 goal seasons.

He will be playing into his 40's like Jagr. Hopefully he doesn't go to the KHL, like Jagr. It would be unquestionable who the no. 2 greatest behind Greatzky is, if Jagr hadn't left the NHL.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Jagr over Mario???
Jagr obviously played much longer,
but i think Lemieux played long enough that u can still lock him in as #2

Jeff Skinner not a top 20 winger in the NHL according to the NHL network. I’m assuming I’m the only Sabres fan on this board that will not be shocked by this one bit.
- Swedish_Jesus

He isn't but that's okay. Remember, there are a potential 62. He easily makes the top half.

Go eat your cereal.

How dare you think reasonably. If Dahlin doesn't get 40 goals this year, he's a bust.
- RippedFuel

If Dahlin doesn’t get 40, it’ll be because he’s a QUITTER!!!!

Jagr over Mario???
Jagr obviously played much longer,
but i think Lemieux played long enough that u can still lock him in as #2
- jdfitz77

Flagged on purpose, go talk hockey with someone else, I don't talk hockey here. You must be confused. I'm here playing hookey not here talking hockey.

Jeff Skinner not a top 20 winger in the NHL according to the NHL network. I’m assuming I’m the only Sabres fan on this board that will not be shocked by this one bit.
- Swedish_Jesus

I still can’t believe the Pegulas forced Botts to give $kinner 9x8, against JB’s forceful objections.

Flagged on purpose, go talk hockey with someone else, I don't talk hockey here. You must be confused. I'm here playing hookey not here talking hockey.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I guess this is what i get for trying to cordially reach out

I still can’t believe the Pegulas forced Botts to give $kinner 9x8, against JB’s forceful objections.
- PrinceChill

???