Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin ready to enjoy breakout season after long layoff
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Buffalo Hockey Beat
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As defenseman Rasmus Dahlin spent month after month packing muscle on his 6-foot-3 frame and honing his skills, coach Ralph Krueger could feel a special transformation was taking place. The Buffalo Sabres’ disappointing finish last season – they missed the NHL’s 24-team playoff qualifying round by one point – irked the Swede and put him in a reflective state of mind. So Dahlin, who’s beginning his third NHL season, utilized his time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. When I reflected on last season, I wanted to put on some weight, be in the gym, get some more muscles,” Dahlin said on a Zoom call Friday following the first session of training camp inside KeyBank Center.
If I look at the strength and the physicality, you will visibly see that in the first skate on the first of January that Dahlin has really used the time properly,” Krueger said Tuesday.
In many ways, we need him to grow for us to be able to reach our goals,” Krueger said. Growth this season, Dahlin said, will be “getting more mature, making the right decision” and showing he can play in both ends.
It’s going to be really fun to see him take another step and hopefully cement himself in that upper echelon of defensemen in this league.”
If I look at the strength and the physicality, you will visibly see that in the first skate on the first of January that Dahlin has really used the time properly,” Krueger said Tuesday.
In many ways, we need him to grow for us to be able to reach our goals,” Krueger said. Growth this season, Dahlin said, will be “getting more mature, making the right decision” and showing he can play in both ends.
It’s going to be really fun to see him take another step and hopefully cement himself in that upper echelon of defensemen in this league.”