Paul Bissonnette isn't backing down from Tuesday's report claiming that Rasmus Dahlin is considering his future with the Buffalo Sabres, despite the team and its captain strongly denying the rumor shortly after it went out.
Bissonnette joined "The Sheet" show with Jeff Marek and addressed his initial comments made on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, in which he stated that Dahlin told Sabres GM Kevyn Adams he would request a trade if the team didn’t improve soon.
“I’m just repeating what I heard,” Bissonnette told Marek. “I said ‘apparently.’ I personally, I don’t really care. Like, that’s kind of where I’m at.
”And I mean, you got to think, though, with what’s going on (in Buffalo) and how quality of a player Dahlin is—I mean, he’s got (seven) years left on his deal. Do you think this guy’s going to put up with this for much longer?”
In a public statement shared by the Sabres, Dahlin was direct in refuting the speculation.
“I have never said I want out of here,” Dahlin said. “I’m not happy (with) where we’re at. I don’t want to lose. We have to get better. I’ve never said I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear.
“That bugs me, actually. I get [ticked] off by that. I haven’t even mentioned the word 'leave.' That’s just how it is.”
While Bissonnette acknowledged the Sabres’ pushback, he continued to suggest that frustration is building within Buffalo’s locker room.
“There’s got to be a boiling point at some time,” Bissonnette said. “His talents are going to waste right now. He’s a world-class defenseman. There are plenty of teams out there who could use a number-one D-man.”
Buffalo remains in last place in the Eastern Conference and is on track to miss the playoffs for the 14th straight season.
Dahlin, meanwhile, in the first year of an eight-year, $88 million contract, has been one of the NHL’s top defensemen, scoring 51 points in 55 games.
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