Player Discussion Rasmus Dahlin Part 4 - D (1st Overall, 2018, Frölunda HC, SHL)

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He needs to work on his skating or he will end up just a good defenseman. That's not what we were hoping for.
I didn't mind the turnover on the blueline so much, but what followed after was an embarassement and not worthy a #1 overall pick.
 
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Zach716

Pucks in deep
Nov 24, 2018
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I said it in the GDT, he still plays like he’s in Frolunda. Except some of the nifty stuff that worked there just doesn’t work against NHL level players. Teams also have a bunch of tape on him by now. He tries way too much fancy stuff at the offensive blue line when he’s the last guy back. I’m not saying to kill his creativity, but he needs to learn when to pick his spots better.
 

valet

obviously adhd
Jan 26, 2017
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I said it in the GDT, he still plays like he’s in Frolunda. Except some of the nifty stuff that worked there just doesn’t work against NHL level players. Teams also have a bunch of tape on him by now. He tries way too much fancy stuff at the offensive blue line when he’s the last guy back. I’m not saying to kill his creativity, but he needs to learn when to pick his spots better.
this will come with experience, but I really don't think he's had too many giveaways in this situation so far this year. don't let one very recent bad play affect your judgement too much
 

Bendium

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Oct 18, 2019
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That’s what I said in the GDT. He literally had no clue a forechecker was coming.
Actually if you watch the reply he looked back at the forchecker as he was going into the corner to retrieve the puck. He knew he was there. The forechecker was just more aggressive, came in on Dahlin fast and slapped his stick up hard and took the puck. The stick popping up put Dahlin off balance and he lost his edges and went down. He just got out hustled and out played. Stop trying so hard to make excuses. It was a bad play by Dahlin. Simple.
 

Kublakhan

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Jan 24, 2013
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He needs a huge fast skating stay at home D'man that can toss fists to be his D partner, Someone to back him up in the d zone and protect his ass because he's kind of gets pushed all over the place, teams have their way with him..
 
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BowieSabresFan

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A bad play indeed and he is stacking too many of those.

He's had plenty more good games than bad this year. Hell, he was very good for several games before this last one. Let's not overstate things. Just have the coaches work on the mistakes he does make.
 
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sabremike

#1 Tageaholic
Aug 30, 2010
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There is a part of me that almost wants to see the team trade him because when it ends up a Ron Francis for John Cullen level catastrophe it would be nothing less than what quite a few hot take merchants here deserve.
 
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Jim Bob

RIP RJ
Feb 27, 2002
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Dahlin is much like a goalie that makes a bunch of great saves but then let's in one he wants back, fans forget about the good saves and excorciate him for a mistake

He is a high event D. People don't know how to wrap their heads around that.

And despite what people said in the off season about being happy if this team played hard and stuff, the way they have reacted to this team being a high event losing team tells the truth. The long playoff drought has many fans wanting the team to win and nothing else.
 

Old Navy Goat

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He is a high event D. People don't know how to wrap their heads around that.

And despite what people said in the off season about being happy if this team played hard and stuff, the way they have reacted to this team being a high event losing team tells the truth. The long playoff drought has many fans wanting the team to win and nothing else.
You can definitely see that in the Get a Goalie Now thread

I'm pleased with Dahlin's renaissance from the Kreuger days. Yes I wish he channeled Mortal Kombat and finished Tanev on the SHG. His passing for the most part was crisp, his skating was on point all in all he had a decent game, unfortunately any mistakes ended up in the net. Being one of the boards favorite whipping boys he will always get shat on
 

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He needs a huge fast skating stay at home D'man that can toss fists to be his D partner, Someone to back him up in the d zone and protect his ass because he's kind of gets pushed all over the place, teams have their way with him..
All of this was supposed to be features of Dahlin himself. Even the nasty streak was shimmering through. We can also see it when he faces the Bruins.
A "generational" defenseman doesn't need support that way, he should have it himself.

I think Dahlin himself will get to that point. He just needs to work towards it. He will never be a burner like Makar, but i think he still has such high potential that he can come somewhat close to him in terms of quickness. I really believe that if he puts in the work and dedicates himself to becoming a better skater, he will make huge strides and will surprise us within an offseason.
 
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Bendium

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He needs a huge fast skating stay at home D'man that can toss fists to be his D partner, Someone to back him up in the d zone and protect his ass because he's kind of gets pushed all over the place, teams have their way with him..
This off season people were clamoring to give Dahlin an 8x8 out of fear he will be good and cost more later. My take was that no matter the player, better to make them prove it, then pay them. Even the 3x6 he got seemed high to me for this specifically. How do you justify paying 6 mil a year to a player who's weaknesses you have to work so hard to cover for? You pay the money to reliable, well rounded, productive players who can pull their own weight. Draft position should not matter. Prove it! Then get opportunities and get paid.
 
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Der Jaeger

Generational EBUG
Feb 14, 2009
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Dahlin comparisons are all off. He’s not
Hedman, and he should never be compared to Makar or Quinn. That’s not his game.

He’s Lidstrom. Nick Lidstrom played in somewhat obscurity until he was around 28, and was part of the Wings’ Cup teams. He didn’t win the Norris until he was 30, and he won 6 of them.

Other defender in his era got more notoriety: Leetch, MacInnis, Zubov, Stevens, Pronger, Niedermeyer, and at the later stages of their careers, Coffey, Housley, and Bourque.

But looking back, Lidstrom was the best of his era and ranks near Orr and Fetisov as the best defensemen to ever play.

We’d be exceptionally foolish to bail on Dahlin now. He’ll be elite for a long, long time because of his mind.
 

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He’s Lidstrom. Nick Lidstrom played in somewhat obscurity until he was around 28, and was part of the Wings’ Cup teams. He didn’t win the Norris until he was 30, and he won 6 of them.
What if there was no Lidstrom?
Feels like you're clinging onto something, instead of letting him develop on his own terms, his own rhythm.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you. However, i also think that a Lidstrom today wouldn't be as good as he was back then. Skating has become more important.
 

Der Jaeger

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What if there was no Lidstrom?
Feels like you're clinging onto something, instead of letting him develop on his own terms, his own rhythm.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you. However, i also think that a Lidstrom today wouldn't be as good as he was back then. Skating has become more important.

Do you remember Lidstrom? His skating was elite but he wasn’t a straight line burner.

Lidstrom, without the clutch and grab, would be the best defensemen in todays game. He won the majority of his Norris’ after the lock out and when he was around 35.

It’s not a reach. Dahlin’s game is very similar. It’s a comparison.
 

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Do you remember Lidstrom? His skating was elite but he wasn’t a straight line burner.

Lidstrom, without the clutch and grab, would be the best defensemen in todays game. He won the majority of his Norris’ after the lock out and when he was around 35.

It’s not a reach. Dahlin’s game is very similar. It’s a comparison.
Ok, but it feels like you are reaching for that comparison which you otherwise wouldn't be doing if Dahlin would be now what he was supposed to be in his 4th season (lol, what sentence.. :laugh:)

What i'm saying is: He should be Lidstrom now, but he isn't.
Now, this is not sarcasm nor provocative towards you, because i'm actually interested right now: What makes you think will make him a Lidstrom later in his career? What does he have to do to become a Lidstrom?
 

Bendium

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"The big issue in his game when he was breaking into the NHL, was his flawed footwork when defending the rush. He would pivot or cross over at the wrong moments, and elite NHLers picked up on that quickly." - Jack Han

This. You want to help Dahlin? Then he needs to sit out every other game so you can put him through a year of skating training with a specialist. Such an investment would get him where he needs to be quicker, and possibly recover his value.
 

2 others

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"The big issue in his game when he was breaking into the NHL, was his flawed footwork when defending the rush. He would pivot or cross over at the wrong moments, and elite NHLers picked up on that quickly." - Jack Han

This. You want to help Dahlin? Then he needs to sit out every other game so you can put him through a year of skating training with a specialist. Such an investment would get him where he needs to be quicker, and possibly recover his value.
Where did you get this quote from?
 

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