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Sabres Select Rasmus Dahlin First Overall

The NHL Entry Draft can sometimes feel like Christmas morning and often the higher the pick the greater the present. And for a franchise that has only had the first overall pick twice before, this pick could be franchise changing. With the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres selected Rasmus Dahlin. Christmas was kind.

While the Sabres needed help on all facets of the team, they took the player that will help them the most.

“He’s got a poise about him and an understanding of how he can make the play that is right in front of him at any time,” Craig Button, TSN’s director of scouting, told Brian Duff.

The 6’2″, 183-lb defenseman from Trollhättan, Sweden, has the abilities to make an impact right away.

In his pre-NHL career, Dahlin played five seasons with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. He went 8-15-23 in 67 games. He also received a silver medal in the 2018 World Junior Championship.

Besides being able to make an impact right away, Dahlin impressed the Sabres during the interview process.

“A very humble man off the ice. I was very impressed with his self-assessment and what he felt he has to improve on,” said general manager Jason Botterill to The Buffalo News. “Just the focus he has and the determination from that. I came away from the meetings very positive about him and that he will have a very impressive future in the National Hockey League.”

Sabres fans expect Dahlin to be up for the challenge of earning a spot and competing in the NHL very rapidly. With the Sabres stacked with young talent, Dahlin can certainly add to the young core for years to come. Dahlin will be the face of the franchise along with youngsters Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Casey Middlestadt, and Rasmus Ristolainen.

With his draft experience out-of-the-way, Dahlin is ready to get to work.

“It’s been a long waiting and you can’t really plan anything, but, like, finally today, I can plan my future and I love to call my new town Buffalo,” Dahlin told The Buffalo News.

Courtney Wagner

Writer for the Buffalo Sabres at The Runner Sports
I get to write about my team and do something I love. How cool is that?

My name is Courtney and I graduated from James Madison University in 2015. I am proud to call Rochester, New York my hometown. The journey has just begun.

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