Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin on tear, quietly becoming one of NHL’s top offensive threats

BUFFALO – At his current pace, captain Rasmus Dahlin would register 72 points over a full season, one less than his career high and the second-highest total by a Sabres defenseman in the last 35 years.

Pretty good, right? Well, consider Dahlin has scored nine goals and 46 points despite battling injuries from the get-go this season and missing eight games with back spasms in December.

What kind of gaudy numbers would the ultra-talented Swede have if he had been healthy for even a month or two?

Dahlin enters Tuesday’s home contest against the Anaheim Ducks on a six-game point streak in which he has scored three goals and 12 points.

It’s no coincidence the Sabres are 5-1-0 in those games.

Entering Monday’s schedule, he had the NHL’s second-highest point total since Jan. 28 and the most among defensemen. His nine assists ranked first among blueliners during that torrid stretch.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Dahlin’s health is the biggest factor in his recent offensive output. Remember, he left the first practice session this season with a back injury and missed most of training camp.

“This is the healthiest he’s been,” Ruff said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I think when you’re feeling better, you play better. He started the year where he missed some camp and he missed some games.

“I think it’s taken a long time to catch up, and he’s played through a lot of stuff, too. So this is by far the best I’ve seen him play and move on the ice.”

In Saturday afternoon’s 8-2 thumping of the New York Rangers, Dahlin performed dynamically, scoring two goals and four points during one of the best outings of his seven-year NHL career.

In the first period, Dahlin switched positions with winger Jordan Greenway and deflected his point shot in from the slot area. Later in the period, he beat Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin from above the right circle. He also nearly scored when Greenway fed him and he skated down the slot.

The NHL awarded Dahlin’s final point, an assist on winger Tage Thompson’s second goal, on Sunday. Dahlin heard about it but hardly cared.

He doesn’t pay much attention to statistics.

“As soon you start thinking about points, you start struggling, I feel like,” Dahlin told the Times Herald. “So you try to stay away from it.”

Dahlin also stays away from saying much about his health. Following Saturday’s game, he acknowledged he has been dealing with “some nagging injuries.” He also said he “wasn’t able to really shoot” the puck.

So perhaps utilizing his heavy wrist shot like he did Saturday to put the Sabres up 5-0 wouldn’t have been possible earlier this season.

When asked on Monday if this is the healthiest he has felt all season, Dahlin replied, “I don’t know.”

“It’s a grind every day,” he said. “You have stuff going on pretty much every day. Everybody’s got it.”

Ruff called Dahlin “a non-excuse guy.”

“I think if you wanted to ask him about health, he doesn’t want that as an excuse,” he said. “As a defenseman, he doesn’t want to focus on points; you want to focus on keeping pucks out of the net.”

The Sabres, having allowed three or fewer goals in five of their last six games, have been playing better defensively. Meanwhile, they’ve averaged six goals scored per game during that stretch.

“I think we created a lot of chances by having our D involved in the play,” Ruff said. “You look at the early (slot chance) by Ras, beating his guy up ice. The play Greenway made to him, plays like that. And to create offense, you have to have a defenseman involved. … A four-man attack is always tough on the other team.”

While Dahlin has recently been on a tear, he has consistently produced offense all season. Entering Monday’s schedule, the 24 assists he has recorded in his last 21 games ranked first among all players in that stretch.

Dahlin’s 73 points in 2022-23 rank third among defensemen in franchise history. Phil Housley, Dahlin’s first NHL coach, set the record with 81 points in 1989-90 and also had 77 points in 1983-84.

Sabres wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker both sat out Monday’s practice for maintenance.

Ruff said the Sabres will see how they respond to Tuesday’s pregame skate and decide their status.

Tuch departed Saturday’s game after being hit in the corner. Zucker, meanwhile, briefly left the contest after blocking a shot but returned.

Ruff also said goalie James Reimer missed practice for a family matter.

Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi has been named the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday after posting two shutouts in two games.

Levi made 26 saves in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Cleveland Monsters and 30 stops in Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 shootout victory against the Toronto Marlies.

He has compiled an 18-6-2 mark with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 26 games with the Amerks this season. His five shutouts are tied for the league lead

The NHL on Monday suspended Ducks forward Trevor Zegras three games for his late hit to Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen’s head Sunday in Detroit.