| Rasmus Dahlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Dahlin with theBuffalo Sabres in 2019 | |||
| Born | (2000-04-13)13 April 2000 (age 25) Trollhättan, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Buffalo Sabres Frölunda HC | ||
| National team |  Sweden | ||
| NHL draft | 1st overall,2018 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2016–present | ||
Rasmus Erik Dahlin (Swedish pronunciation:[ˈrǎsːmusda'li:n]; born 13 April 2000) is a Swedish professionalice hockeydefenceman andcaptain of theBuffalo Sabres of theNational Hockey League (NHL). Having been referred to as the most talented player available[1] in the2018 NHL entry draft class,[2][3] Dahlin was selectedfirst overall in the draft by the Sabres.
In the2016–17 season, Dahlin scored his firstSwedish Hockey League (SHL) goal withFrölunda HC on 12 November 2016 in a game againstKarlskrona HK.[4]
Leading up to the2018 NHL entry draft, Dahlin was widely considered the top prospect. He was described as a smart two-way defenceman with a great set of tools, including skating, puck handling, vision, intelligence and shot. Dan Marr of theNHL Central Scouting Bureau described him as an exceptionally talented prospect that would be able to impact his team's fortune in a way similar to his countrymenErik Karlsson andVictor Hedman.[5]
On 22 June 2018, Dahlin was drafted first overall by theBuffalo Sabres.[6] He was the first Swedish player to be drafted first overall sinceMats Sundin in1989, and the second Swede overall to accomplish the feat. On 9 July, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres.[7] Dahlin participated at the Sabres' training camp and made the opening night roster for the2018–19 season.[8] He made his NHL debut on 4 October in a 4–0 loss to theBoston Bruins.[9] Dahlin recorded his first career NHL goal on 13 October in a 3–0 win over theArizona Coyotes.[10] On 9 February 2019, after a win over theDetroit Red Wings, Dahlin became the fifth defenceman in NHL history to record 30 points before age 19.[11] Following his rookie season, Dahlin was named as one of the three finalists for theCalder Memorial Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL.[12]
On 22 September 2021, Dahlin signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Sabres. He enjoyed a breakout2021–22 season, posting new career highs in goals, assists and points and was named to the2022 NHL All-Star Game.
Dahlin opened the2022–23 season by setting an NHL record for goals by a defenceman in consecutive opening games, at four, as part of a resurgent Sabres team.[13] Dahlin was later named to his second consecutiveAll-Star Game, replacing injured teammateTage Thompson.[14]
On 9 October 2023, Dahlin signed an eight-year, $88 million contract extension with the Sabres.[15]
Dahlin was namedcaptain of the Sabres on 26 September 2024, succeedingKyle Okposo.[16]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Sweden | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2024 Czech Republic | |
At age 16, Dahlin was the youngest player to ever dress forSweden at theIIHF World U20 Championship, and the youngest player overall in the2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[17] Dahlin competed in the2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for Sweden, recording six assists and helping lead the team to win silver.[18] He was named the tournament's top defenceman after scoring the second-most points amongst tournament defencemen.[19] After Dahlin and several other teammates removed their silver medals after receiving them during the medal ceremony, he was suspended for the first two games of the2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[20]
Dahlin also represented theSwedish senior team at the2018 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest player to compete in the 2018 tournament, and the youngest to compete in the men's hockey tournament since 1984.[21][22]
He representedSweden at the2024 IIHF World Championship and won a bronze medal.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | HC Lidköping | Div.3 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Frölunda HC | J20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Frölunda HC | J20 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Frölunda HC | SHL | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Frölunda HC | J20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Frölunda HC | SHL | 41 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 82 | 9 | 35 | 44 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 59 | 4 | 36 | 40 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 56 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 80 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 15 | 58 | 73 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 81 | 20 | 39 | 59 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 73 | 17 | 51 | 68 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SHL totals | 67 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 509 | 83 | 277 | 360 | 378 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sweden | IH18 | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2017 | Sweden | WJC | 4th | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2018 | Sweden | WJC |  | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2018 | Sweden | OG | 5th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Sweden | WC | 6th | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2024 | Sweden | WC |  | 10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 29 | |
| 2025 | Sweden | 4NF | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 19 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 12 | ||||
| Senior totals | 13 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 33 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| CHL | ||
| Champion | 2017 | [23] |
| NHL | ||
| Rookie of the Month | November 2018 | [24] |
| All-Rookie Team | 2019 | [25] |
| All-Star Game | 2022,2023,2024 | [26][27] |
Rookie Rasmus Dahlin had an assist and became the fifth defenseman in NHL history with at least 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) before his 19th birthday (53 games).
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | NHL first overall draft pick 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | Buffalo Sabres captain 2024–present | Incumbent |