Is Rasmus Dahlin an idiot?

[DJN21]

My Swedish speech is more fun than my mother tongue, more speech in Swedish.

Two nice Dahlin and Power among Buffalo's defence.

Nope.

 

[toomuchsauce]

The Buffalo Sabres ruined him and are continuing to ruin him. Either they told him - the most skilled defenseman I've ever seen - to play more like Derian Hatcher, and he took it to heart, OR, he decided to do that on his own and they didn't stop him. Either way, who cares, the result is the same. He was never fast, but he bulked up a lot, and now he's *extremely* not fast. Could you imagine what Quinn Hughes would be like if the Canucks told him to put on 30 pounds and fight guys? I mean...wtf?

Here's a guy who, as a prospect and as a rookie, would routinely fake professional hockey players out so bad they'd literally fall down, and now all he does is take clappers into shin pads on the power play and scrum after the whistle. He is a shell of the player he was as a teenager. To put it in statsbro speak, he's a guy who generally still does good corsi and xgf, but he plays like Rasmus Ristolainen (who...not coincidentally...was also a Buffalo Sabre....). He maintains relatively good stats probably because he is so talented and has vision that can't be taught, but he plays the way you would expect a "bad defenseman" to play. Static, lumbering, clappering, scrumming. It's sad, actually.

 

[Aladyyn]

Dahlin played some unreal hockey 2 years ago and last year ( And where did that get them ) I think he should get the benefit of the doubt a little bit for a rough start all while recovering from an injury, although I'm not a buffalo fan so I can't really comment.

Surely Dahlin is the least of their worries

He's playing great this season too.

 

[hirawl]

He's actually an awesome hockey player. Only the stupid can't see that.

And the hype before draft was every bit deserved. He was unbelievable. Things he did from the blue line as a 16 year old I've never seen anyone do. Made established pros look beer league.

 

[pekka55]

Coach Lindy Ruff said this today on WGR550 when asked about Dahlin's ill timed penalties:

"It's something that he's going to have to get over. It's repeated now, it's something in his DNA. Part of the DNA is his emotion is running really high. Part of that DNA was wiring that slap shot on the power play that says we're going to make sure we get into this game. At the same time that type of DNA is hurting him. It's something that mentally he has to get past. We have to help him get past that. As the captain of the team you're the leader. The guy who sets the tone. So it's something in Dahls case that he knows he has to be better. He knows he can't take that situation.

Every player has a trigger. Can you control that trigger whether it's an emotional trigger, physical, at a key moment? We have to be able to conquer those hard moments. That is a moment that he has to let go. He's going to have to learn to let go. He hasn't been able to do it yet....."

Also said this after a follow-up question:

"Learn to control. Learn to move on"

Yeah, let's make the dude that has problems regulating his emotions the captain. Makes perfect sense.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Prone to emotional outbursts as well as poor greasy skin - still in the throws of puberty at 25. As a late bloomer myself, the guy will be an absolute stud in his 30's, calling it now.

 

[ijuka]

Coach Lindy Ruff said this today on WGR550 when asked about Dahlin's ill timed penalties:

"It's something that he's going to have to get over. It's repeated now, it's something in his DNA. Part of the DNA is his emotion is running really high. Part of that DNA was wiring that slap shot on the power play that says we're going to make sure we get into this game. At the same time that type of DNA is hurting him. It's something that mentally he has to get past. We have to help him get past that. As the captain of the team you're the leader. The guy who sets the tone. So it's something in Dahls case that he knows he has to be better. He knows he can't take that situation.

Every player has a trigger. Can you control that trigger whether it's an emotional trigger, physical, at a key moment? We have to be able to conquer those hard moments. That is a moment that he has to let go. He's going to have to learn to let go. He hasn't been able to do it yet....."

Also said this after a follow-up question:

"Learn to control. Learn to move on"

I think that this was some good stuff by Lindy Ruff but even so, this is all talk at this point.

Does Lindy have the tools to help Dahlin control it? It wasn't really a secret that Dahlin is a temperamental guy, he was that way even pre-draft.

Also, when a team is underperforming several years in a row and keeps failing to meet expectation, taking a look at the leadership group is only natural.

 

[Zach716]

Lol I’m pretty sure the fins on this site have a group chat and congregate around Dahlin threads. It’s bizarre

 

[Mulletman]

Seems like Dahlin is trying to break the single season goal record for Swedish defensemen as he's had at least 5 shots on goal 4 times in his first 16 games. Last year he didn't shoot 5 times once in his first 16 games. Last year he got 20 goals, so that probably made him realize he could do it. But it seems like his overall game will suffer because of the focus he's putting on scoring goals.

 

[Panthaz89]

When was the last time a team full of kids did anything? Buffalo has zero vets and have arrogantly held onto their prospect pool thinking they can be different. Maybe it’s an overcorrection from Eichel, who knows. But the fact they haven’t acquired a real veteran RHD, among other things, is inexcusable. Dahlin will have his moment

I'm pretty sure Eric Johnson is the only vet that's been with the team more than 60 games....... Dahlin has been the oldest defenseman of the team at 24 for almost 6 years other than when Bogosian was spending 75% of his time here on IR.

Dahlin is pretty great when he isn't in his own head but yeah he's not that good in a 6v5 situation which isn't favorable to the offense anyway. The real discussion is why are the Sabres even in a 6v5 situation when they already scored 5 goals? Owen Power was -4 on the game you would think the criticism would be have aimed at him when the Canadians normally don't score that much.

 

[Aladyyn]

I'm pretty sure Eric Johnson is the only vet that's been with the team more than 60 games....... Dahlin has been the oldest defenseman of the team at 24 for almost 6 years other than when Bogosian was spending 75% of his time here on IR.

Dahlin is pretty great when he isn't in his own head but yeah he's not that good in a 6v5 situation which isn't favorable to the offense anyway. The real discussion is why are the Sabres even in a 6v5 situation when they already scored 5 goals? Owen Power was -4 on the game you would think the criticism would be have aimed at him when the Canadians normally don't score that much.

The answer is because the goalies couldn't make a save but that's boring

 

[I am not exposed]

Yes

 

[Raistlin]

Chill. I too can't believe how lucky we are to have Hughes but we don't need to be smug and insert it unnecessarily into unrelated threads.

Dahlin' been completely unsupported by veterans or useful systems, so it's possible he's adopted some terrible habits.

But he's still a superlatively skilled player. Either in Buffalo, or if they stupidly trade him elsewhere, he will be a key part of some long playoff runs eventually.

not being smug, Dahlin was not close to being a dud. I just wanted to point out that the cover was not wrong, there was indeed a quasi-generational level talent in that draft class after all (What are the chances of that?). They just listed him at 8 or sth behind Wahlstorm and Boqvist etc.

 

[GreatSaveLuongo]

well he's way better than Nurse

 

[3074326]

not being smug, Dahlin was not close to being a dud. I just wanted to point out that the cover was not wrong, there was indeed a quasi-generational level talent in that draft class after all (What are the chances of that?). They just listed him at 8 or sth behind Wahlstorm and Boqvist etc.

Coming into a topic about one player and bragging about how you got it right and the Sabres got it wrong is smug as f***, sorry to say.

 

[Raistlin]

Coming into a topic about one player and bragging about how you got it right and the Sabres got it wrong is smug as f***, sorry to say.

you can interpret it however way you want, I can assure you, my intention was not to point out who was right and who was wrong, Dahlin is a rare talent, and Sabres brass is not wrong to draft him, even though the title of this topic suggests otherwise. I was simply commenting on a cover with an outrageous hyperbolic caption being actually correct for once, but the prospect turns out to be a different guy. I guess I could've worded my initial post as "2018 defensive prospect that shall remain nameless".

I come in peace.

 

[Mattilaus]

Yes, he is a dumb dumb. Now that is established you may carry on with whatever you were doing.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He's a burgeoning idiot.

 

[BFLO]

The Buffalo Sabres ruined him and are continuing to ruin him. Either they told him - the most skilled defenseman I've ever seen - to play more like Derian Hatcher, and he took it to heart, OR, he decided to do that on his own and they didn't stop him. Either way, who cares, the result is the same. He was never fast, but he bulked up a lot, and now he's *extremely* not fast. Could you imagine what Quinn Hughes would be like if the Canucks told him to put on 30 pounds and fight guys? I mean...wtf?

Here's a guy who, as a prospect and as a rookie, would routinely fake professional hockey players out so bad they'd literally fall down, and now all he does is take clappers into shin pads on the power play and scrum after the whistle. He is a shell of the player he was as a teenager. To put it in statsbro speak, he's a guy who generally still does good corsi and xgf, but he plays like Rasmus Ristolainen (who...not coincidentally...was also a Buffalo Sabre....). He maintains relatively good stats probably because he is so talented and has vision that can't be taught, but he plays the way you would expect a "bad defenseman" to play. Static, lumbering, clappering, scrumming. It's sad, actually.

I wouldn't go as far as to call him Risto. But he's definitely taken a step back over the past 2 seasons since 2022-23.

 

[Sabresruletheschool]

I wouldn't go as far as to call him Risto. But he's definitely taken a step back over the past 2 seasons since 2022-23.

I thought he had a pretty damn good season last year. He played good in his own zone and was in the race for most goals for a defenseman. He also excels at moving the puck up the ice.

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

Is saying "please discuss..." just another way of saying please agree with me lol?

No not at all.....Share any opinion of Dahlin u want.

Coach Lindy Ruff said this today on WGR550 when asked about Dahlin's ill timed penalties:

"It's something that he's going to have to get over. It's repeated now, it's something in his DNA. Part of the DNA is his emotion is running really high. Part of that DNA was wiring that slap shot on the power play that says we're going to make sure we get into this game. At the same time that type of DNA is hurting him. It's something that mentally he has to get past. We have to help him get past that. As the captain of the team you're the leader. The guy who sets the tone. So it's something in Dahls case that he knows he has to be better. He knows he can't take that situation.

Every player has a trigger. Can you control that trigger whether it's an emotional trigger, physical, at a key moment? We have to be able to conquer those hard moments. That is a moment that he has to let go. He's going to have to learn to let go. He hasn't been able to do it yet....."

Also said this after a follow-up question:

"Learn to control. Learn to move on"

very well said on Ruff's part.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

He just has lazy brain farts sometimes. Really hope he irons that out sometime, it’s like he’s thinking of the next play as he loses the puck.

 

[Brookbank]

Exactly... in fact, I would strongly consider trading pretty much anyone else on our roster for him.
Outside of Hughes.

Nope. Im not trading Petterson for Dhalin

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

So..this was great fun, thanks everyone!

Living in Vancouver I have followed the trajectory of Quinn Hughes and can draw some comparisons to Dahlin. When Hughes entered the league he was paired with Tanev. It worked out very very well. Then Tanev left and they never found a consistent partner until they acquired Hronek and we know how well that turned out.

Dahlin has had no such luck. His erratic play screams the need for a calm, veteran partner who communicates well with younger d-men and settles them down. Sounds like he has had nothing remotely close to that.

Hughes with tanev was great. Hughes with Hronek is great. Hughes with other Canucks defenceman was not nearly as good.

But that said, Hughes never does the stupid things Dahlin does.

If Dahlin is as emotional as Ruff and others claim he is it makes sense as an explanation. It explains, not justifies, but explains stupid penalties and immaturity.

Making him captain is not going to help with these issues, it appears it only exacerbates them.

If Dahlin can't make the necessary changes to his attitude he will never reach the Hughes/Makar level regardless of who his partner is.

He'll have a career closer to someone like Morgan Rielly.

However a better partner, better team and maybe making someone else the captain could substantially improve his performance.

That captain issue is probably impossible to fix/change at this point.

If the Sabres continue to disappoint Adams probably deserves to go, get a fresh face with objectivity to look at the roster.

Still an overall fascinating team, hoping for your group to pull it together.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Dahlin with another stupid late penalty with the Sabres in a tight one versus the Sharks last night.

Of course it didn’t matter as much as the 2 hits, 2 points, and 5 shots as he went +3 in 25 minutes of a 4-2 victory.

His good plays far outnumber the gaffs and they have for quite some time now.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that people will continue to undervalue him until the Sabres break through or he goes elsewhere, just like they did Eichel and Reinhart.

It’s why no one is talking about the run of 17 points in 13 games he’s on since he recovered from a training camp injury. They pretend he’s soft or bad defensively while ignoring where he ranks in terms of shot share, or hits.

19 points, 22 hits, 32 blocked shots, +5, 59% Corsi for, +1 penalties drawn/taken, 24:45 minutes per game

19 points, 3 hits, 20 blocked shots, +4, 61% Corsi for, even penalties drawn/taken, 24.15 minutes per game.

One is the best defenceman in the NHL. The other is Rasmus Dahlin.