Player Discussion Rasmus Dahlin Part 2- D (1st Overall, 2018, Frölunda HC, SHL)

[RecycledEichel]

Good Lord. His highlight reel for the whole season is going to be unbelievable, at 18 years of age.

Can you imagine what his highlight reel is going to be like at 26 years old?

 

[sabrebuild]

I think Risto gets too much crap here generally. He is misused, but a valuable player.

But the difference in immediate impact at age 18 that Dahlin is providing compared to a 19 orv even 20 year old Risto is startling.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[sabrebuild]

Got an Apple, could have had two goals if he had finished great chances.

Rinse, repeat.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Man, I can't even say how good this kid is. People try to compare him to others but at 18 I think he has to be one of the best 18 year olds to play defence. He is almost mistake free, awesome decision making the thing I have noticed lately is how he can open the ice up on the pass with an extra move. That move scores goals.

 

[Dirty Dog]

ppg his last 7 games!

 

[tsujimoto74]

ppg his last 7 games!

Could easily be even better. I thought he could've had 4 points tonight. You can see him gaining more and more confidence to make plays offensively. Kid is going to be a monster.

 

[gallagt01]

He is way too soft on pucks in the d-zone (and particularly below the goal line) right now. It's something he'll get better at as he physically matures, but it's an area of his game that could certainly use some cleaning up.

Other than that...what a freaking player.

 

[Matte99]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

 

[Beerz]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

i dont know.. he's on pace for 40 + points as an 18 yr old rookie...seems alright to me

 

[tsujimoto74]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

7 points in his last 7 games, on pace to score north of 40 as an 18-year-old, and getting more and more confident handling the puck and taking chances every game. Appreciate your concern, but I think the kid's doing just fine.

BTW, Dahlin right now is already half way to matching Larsson's most productive NHL season ever. It's 1/4 of the way through the season, and he is 18.

 

[Gabrielor]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

I don't see that at all. If he would've buried that Pitt goal rather than hitting the post, this post probably wouldn't exist. (To say nothing of the two-dozen other chances he had. Aside from Eichel, he's the only other player I've seen on the Sabres average 1 prime scoring chance a game)

 

[Zman5778]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

He's showing those instincts more and more. Nearly had a goal yesterday on a sweet feed from Sam. I think he was focusing on his defensive responsibilities first (possibly at the urging of the staff) and bit by bit, his offensive side is showing.

I know points aren't the end-all, be-all of offensive ability, but he's already halfway to Larsson's career high.

 

[WpgBuffan]

There is a touch of Adam Larsson to him. Adam was also extremely hyped but his offensive side never got off. Dahlin has shown great offensive instincts in SHL but whenever i watched him he has been a defense first D. Nothing wrong with that but you want more, dont you. Hope he gets going.

He is 21st in defenceman scoring right now. You must of only been watching him the first few games of the year. He is starting to turn the offense on.

 

[HaNotsri]

He's showing those instincts more and more. Nearly had a goal yesterday on a sweet feed from Sam. I think he was focusing on his defensive responsibilities first (possibly at the urging of the staff) and bit by bit, his offensive side is showing.

I know points aren't the end-all, be-all of offensive ability, but he's already halfway to Larsson's career high.

He stated himself before the season that he would focus on d and adjusting to the NHL before trying to take on a more creative role. Not that he hasn’t been creative.

 

[OkimLom]

I continually am in awe with how defensively mature he is at his age. Where Ekblad/Hedman were two of the most physically ready D-men to be drafted in recent history, Dahlin is well above any defenseman mentally ready that was drafted recently. It's not even at a level of just being capable of playing at the NHL level, but the signs so early of playing at an elite level.

Watching him play, it looks like the only thing holding him back is his comfort level at this level, which will be fixed as he gains experience. I figured by age 21 he would be among the best defenseman in the game, I may have to bump that sooner if he continues at the trajectory he's playing at.

 

[dasaybz]

I continually am in awe with how defensively mature he is at his age. Where Ekblad/Hedman were two of the most physically ready D-men to be drafted in recent history, Dahlin is well above any defenseman mentally ready that was drafted recently. It's not even at a level of just being capable of playing at the NHL level, but the signs so early of playing at an elite level.

Watching him play, it looks like the only thing holding him back is his comfort level at this level, which will be fixed as he gains experience. I figured by age 21 he would be among the best defenseman in the game, I may have to bump that sooner if he continues at the trajectory he's playing at.

He could easily pack 20 lbs of muscle as well. Him more comfortable and bigger is a scary thought.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Complete player!

 

[Yatzhee]

This kid is "as was advertised".

 

[1972]

I think we are less then 20 games away from the Dahlin show.

 

[Gabrielor]

Best defensive prospect Ive ever seen. So happy he’s ours. He makes so much happen for us. Getting him changed everything.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Dahlin is just getting started. When he matures in 2-3 years kid is going to be amazing

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Best defensive prospect Ive ever seen. So happy he’s ours. He makes so much happen for us. Getting him changed everything.

Its just crazy. He is like an extra forward out there the way he can stick handle and pass.

 

[Reddawg]

This kid is "as was advertised".

He's better than advertised. He's seven (should be six...hopefully that apple he earned last night gets restored on replay with the league) points away from tying his production in the SHL from last season. If he *only* doubles up that twenty points to 40 this year I'll be surprised...I think he'll top 50. Just keeps getting better and better every single game. More confident, more slippery, a little bit of arrogance out there in a great way. I'd love to see him get his shot going...more accurate on the slapshot and quicker on the wrister. That's the only thing missing so far, but it's not even December of his rookie year.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Yeah, as of right now, he's getting screwed on the assist on Skinner's tally. Hopefully that gets adjusted.