Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Rasmus Dahlin has maintained all along that he wanted to be a member of the Buffalo Sabres, and there was nothing to worry about with his contract.
The defenseman was true to his word, as he's signed an eight-year contract extension with the Sabres on Monday worth $88 million.
With an average annual value (AAV) of $11 million per-season, it will make Dahlin, along with Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, the second-highest paid defensemen in the NHL. Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes this highest AAV in the league at $11.5 million.
Dahlin still has one more year on his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $6 million.
The 23-year-old was the first overall pick of the Sabres back in the 2018 NHL Draft. In 355 career NHL games to this point, Dahlin has scored 46 goals with 187 assists for 233 points.
Dahlin is starting his sixth season with the Sabres, and is coming off career highs in all categories during the 2022-23 campaign. The two-time NHL All-Star had 15 goals and 58 assists for 73 points last year.
The Swedish defenseman has become a member of the team’s leadership group, and whenever Kyle Okposo retires, it wouldn’t be shocking for Dahlin to become the captain of the team.
