Dahlin steps into play for Sabres
Rasmus Dahlin wasn’t kidding about how hockey has become his sole obsession.
No more than an hour after completing his introductory news conference in Buffalo yesterday, the NHL’s No. 1 overall draft pick had already changed into a yellow Sabres practice uniform and, with stick in hand, was on his way to hit the ice with a number of fellow prospects.
Finally, after a monthlong pre-draft process of interviews, testing and cross-country travel that culminated in hearing his name called first from the podium in Dallas on Friday, Dahlin was back in his element.
“I used to play some golf and hang out with friends, but, yeah, I love to play hockey and that’s my 100 percent thing I usually do,” the 18-year-old Swedish defenseman said. “I’m a pretty boring guy.”
Off the ice, maybe. On the ice, Dahlin is considered anything but boring with a heads-up, smooth-skating and play-making style that has already drawn comparisons to elite Swedish defensemen such as Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson and former Detroit Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom.
In Buffalo, he’s already captured the imagination of a win-starved base of fans, many of whom started submitting orders for Dahlin’s No. 26 Sabres jersey moments after he formally pulled one on to close the news conference.
And yet, amid the buzz Dahlin generated since the Sabres won the NHL draft lottery in April, it’s unrealistic to presume one player alone can turn around a franchise that has finished last in three of the past five years, not made the playoffs since 2011 and not won a playoff series since 2007.
“I don’t actually think that way,” Dahlin said of whether he feels the weight of expectations on his 6-foot-2, 181-pound frame. “I’ll bring everything I can to this team and, yeah, try to win hockey games. That’s what I think about.”
General manager Jason Botterill was quick to interject once Dahlin completed his answer.
“He doesn’t need to be the savior,” Botterill said, before listing the talented young group of players already on Buffalo’s roster, including forward Jack Eichel. “Look, we certainly have to have better results on the ice, but we’re certainly excited to bring Rasmus into our core group here and how they can grow together.”
On a day dedicated to Dahlin, Botterill struck an upbeat tone in steering away questions that featured any hint of negativity.
Rather than worry how a gloomy culture might affect newcomers such as Dahlin, Botterill is counting on Buffalo’s youngsters to begin changing the atmosphere.
“We’re not expecting them to lead the room, but we’re expecting them to bring their positive attributes, their competitiveness to that group,” Botterill said.
Also, Victor Antipin won’t be back after the Sabres did not issue the Russian-born defenseman a qualifying offer. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Sabres also won’t extend an offer to forward Scott Wilson, though the team intends on attempting to re-sign him.
Sharks make moves
The San Jose Sharks declined to issue a qualifying offer to defenseman Dylan DeMelo, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Sharks also gave qualifying offers to forwards Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney. Those two will become restricted free agents in July, giving San Jose the option to match any offer from another team or get draft pick compensation.
The 25-year-old DeMelo played 63 games last season on San Jose’s third defensive pairing. He had no goals and 20 assists. Hertl was one of San Jose’s top forwards last year with 22 goals and 24 assists. He added six goals and three assists in 10 playoff games and is in line for a longterm deal. Tierney had career highs with 17 goals and 23 assists last season.
Wings re-sign two
The Detroit Red Wings agreed to terms with forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Martin Frk. Detroit resigned Bertuzzi with a $2.8 million, two-year deal and Frk with a $1.05 million, one-year contract. Bertuzzi, 23, had 24 points in 48 games last season. The 24-year-old Frk had 25 points in 68 games.
Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha were among Detroit’s unsigned, restricted free agents . . . .
The Arizona Coyotes got defenseman Robbie Russo from the Red Wings for a conditional seventh-round pick next year.