Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is among the highest-paid players in the NHL, and is expected to be a central figure in Sweden’s hopes for success at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano - Cortina, Italy next February. In a pre-season ranking of the league’s top blueliners, the Sabres team captain was ranked seventh by NHL Network.
The 25-year-old was selected first overall in 2018 and in his seventh season with the Sabres finished fourth in the NHL in defensive scoring with 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists) in 73 games, behind Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and the other two Norris finalists, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars, fellow Swede Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets were ranked ahead of Dahlin, who scored in double figures for the fourth year in a row last season. Jacob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, and Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers filled out the top ten.
Despite Dahlin’s offensive consistency over the last four years, the Sabres are going to need him to play equally as proficiently at the defensive end of the ice for them to challenge for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference next season, along with seeing bigger contributions from fellow top overall pick Owen Power, the recently signed Bowen Byram, and newly acquired Michael Kesselring.
Our Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list has a total of:
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 13, 2025
• 19 total All-Star Game appearances
• 9 All-Rookie team honors
• 6 James Norris Memorial Trophies
• 2 Calder Trophies
• 2 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 9 Stanley Cups
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