Sabres name Dahlin captain

The Buffalo Sabres announced star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin as their new captain Thursday.

"He does everything right, first and foremost," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "His on-ice action has been incredible, and I think he's a guy that leads in every category, from the way he prepares himself to the way he plays, and the fact that he's a guy who cares about winning hockey games."

Kyle Okposo previously wore the "C" in Buffalo before the club traded the veteran to the Florida Panthers last season.

Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson, and Mattias Samuelsson will rotate as Buffalo's alternate captains.

"Rasmus sets the tone for our team each and every day with how he prepares and competes," general manager Kevyn Adams said. "He is respected by his teammates and coaches, both for his actions at the rink and his commitment to our Western New York community."

The Sabres announced Dahlin's captaincy with a video narrated by Buffalo Bills franchise quarterback Josh Allen.

Dahlin, the first Swedish captain in Sabres history, has blossomed into a legitimate No. 1 defenseman since being drafted first overall by Buffalo in 2018. He finished eighth in Norris Trophy voting in 2023 and 15th in 2024.

Despite being just 24 years old, Dahlin is already entering his seventh NHL season. He posted a career-high 73 points in 2022-23 and established a new personal best with 20 goals last campaign.

Dahlin has led Buffalo in average ice time in three straight seasons. He's set to begin the first campaign of an eight-year, $88-million contract he signed in October 2023.