Rasmus Dahlin’s place among the NHL’s elite is getting harder to argue against.
The Buffalo Sabres captain landed in The Athletic’s top tier of annual player rankings, sharing that level with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, Boston’s David Pastrnak and Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, who won the Norris Trophy. Only Hart Trophy winners Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon were placed above that group, while Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Norris winners Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar sat in the middle of Tier 1.
For Buffalo, Dahlin’s rise matters because the Sabres are trying to keep moving forward after reaching the postseason for the first time in 15 years. The 26-year-old turned in a career-high 74 points while dealing with personal adversity, then helped lead the club to its first playoff appearance since 2011. That season also brought nominations for both the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Norris Trophy.
The rankings also showed how much of Buffalo’s core remains in the conversation. Center Tage Thompson was placed in Tier 3B. Wingers Zach Benson and Josh Doan landed in Tier 5A and Tier 5B, respectively, while defensemen Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson were both put in Tier 5C.
Former Sabres were spread throughout the list as well. Jack Eichel, now a Cup winner, was placed in Tier 2A.
Sam Reinhart, another Cup winner, checked in at Tier 3A. Ryan O’Reilly was listed in Tier 5A.
Two more ex-Sabres, Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, were both placed in Tier 5, described as players who offer “strong support to a contending or championship core, but who wouldn’t be an integral piece within it”. Tuch signed with Washington in July as the highest paid unrestricted free agent at $10.5 million AAV, while Byram briefly held the title of highest paid NHL defenseman until Cale Makar’s $20.4 million AAV eight-year extension last week.
In Other News...
Sabres Just Raised A Bigger Goalie Question Than Fans Expected
Buffalos goaltending picture changed quickly when the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis off waivers from St. Louis and sent Devon Levi back to the AHL for the 2025-26 season. Ellis, a 2019 fifth-round pick, had just established himself as a full-time AHL starter last season before getting a look in the NHL, where he appeared in 16 games and finished 8-4-2.
The move adds another layer to a position that has already been shaped by injuries and roster juggling, and it suggests Buffalo may be headed back toward carrying three goalies. With Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the mix, Ellis now has a path to more NHL time than many expected when the Sabres made the waiver claim. [Read more 🡒]
Jiri Kulich Could Decide Buffalos Biggest Camp Battle
Jiri Kulich has already become one of the more important names in Sabres camp, even before the real battles begin. Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff recently said the young center is in town, has been skating and looks great after missing most of last season because of a blood clot, a welcome sign for a player who showed real promise in a brief 12-game stint before his health issues interrupted things.
Kulichs return matters because the Sabres still have a major question at center heading into training camp, and his fit could help shape the entire conversation. He flashed especially well in 2024-25 when skating with Tage Thompson and Zach Benson, which is why Buffalo will be watching closely to see whether he can get back to that level and force his way into the top-end mix. [Read more 🡒]
Mattias Samuelsson Could Be Key To Buffalo Replacing A Lost Blue Line Piece
Mattias Samuelsson spent last season showing a side of his game the Sabres had not always needed from him before. His offense took a meaningful jump, with 13 goals and 28 assists, and that kind of production from a defenseman changes how a team can build around the blue line. With Bowen Byram gone in a trade, Buffalo now has a real opening to ask more of the players already in place rather than simply trying to find a one-for-one replacement.
Samuelssons value is not just in what he already provided, either. There is a sense that he can still grow into more, which is what makes him such an intriguing part of the next step for Buffalos defense. One path the Sabres could explore is giving him a bigger role with the man advantage, a move that would fit both his recent offensive uptick and the clubs need to squeeze more production out of the back end. [Read more 🡒]