Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It may be a little surprising that in 28 games playing for Ralph Krueger this season, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had 11 points. In 27 games playing for Don Granato, the Swedish blue liner had 12 points. Don’t forget Dahlin played one game for Kevyn Adams.
Despite the point output being almost identical, there’s no denying Dahlin was a much better player under Granato, and he helped generate offense just by playing to his strengths.
Dahlin earned more ice-time because he was playing much better. With Granato, he averaged 22:10 per-game, while that total was 21:03 per-game with Krueger. Dahlin is a fan of the style Granato brings to the game.
“His way to play is how I learned to play hockey, but the thing I felt was that he trusted me as a player," Dahlin said during his end-of-season conference call. "He really saw what my potential was, and I felt comfortable playing out there. I wasn’t thinking too much.”
It’s not just what Granato did for him. Dahlin noticed a difference in the whole team.
“He came in with a great, positive attitude. He made us play well and feel confident," Dahlin said. "Every day we came to the rink, we were in a good mood and we always knew he had our back. That’s a huge key for having success.”
Dahlin doesn’t want to be just an offensive defenseman. Under Granato, his defensive play improved because he wasn’t under so much stress to play a game he wasn’t suited for. “I want to be a defenseman you can trust and that can play in both ends,” Dahlin said.
Granato tried a lot of new things in the last half of the season. Some of it worked, some of it didn’t, but the experiment he stayed with was playing Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju against the other team’s best players.
“It was a great experience,” Dahlin said. “I’ve never really played against the other team’s top lines before, so I felt that I took the next step defensively and I really learned how the best players in the league play.”
I don’t have to tell you that the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs in 10 years.
You don’t have to tell Dahlin either.
“That’s why you play hockey, you want to make the playoffs," the defenseman said. "Going into summer, I will work really hard to be able to play playoff hockey. I’m excited to work on all the stuff that I have to do.”
I never understood the statement that the cupboard is bare for the Sabres. This season showed a very good flock of young defensemen that are ready to form a good core with Buffalo.
Joining Dahlin and Jokiharju are Will Borgen, Mattias Samuelsson and Jacob Bryson. Despite Bryson showing well at times, I think Adams should still look to add a good, veteran to the mix. It wouldn’t kill Bryson to start with the Rochester Americans next season and then come up when the Sabres have a need.
Oskari Laaksonen had a good rookie season in Rochester, and 2019 first round pick Ryan Johnson is coming off an excellent sophomore season at the University of Minnesota.
Don’t forget that Lawrence Pilut is still Sabres property for another two years. He has another year left on his contract in the KHL.
In case you missed Dahlin's end-of-season conference call, you can listen to it below:
