The 24-year-old blueliner is second in goals among NHL defensemen with 20.
With the Buffalo Sabres mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week, various countries will be looking to tap players off the club’s roster for the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Czechia next month. Last season, five Sabres players participated in the tournament in Latvia and Finland, but one of them was not defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
The 24-year-old blueliner was coming off a career-high 73-point campaign, battled a lower-body injury late in the season, and was entering a summer in which he was eligible for a long-term extension, so he opted not to play for Sweden (who were upset by Latvia in the quarter-finals). This year with his health being good and his contractual situation in order, the Sabres top blueliner announced to a Swedish media outlet that he will play for his country next month.
Dahlin signed an eight-year, $88 million contract extension last October and scored a career-high 20 goals this season for the Sabres this season.
Last season, five Sabres played for three countries; Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, and Devon Levi for Canada (who won gold), J-J Peterka for Germany (who was named the tournament’s top forward and won silver) and Alex Tuch for the United States.
Peterka will likely play a prominent role for Germany, with Leon Draisaitl in the playoffs with Edmonton and Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle currently injured. Levi may be unavailable with Rochester potentially poised for a deep playoff run with Rochester, but which players have been asked or are available to go will be clearer when the Sabres hold the end-of-season media availability this week.
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