Rasmus Dahlin is already in the Norris Trophy conversation, and last season showed just how close he is to the top of the mountain. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman finished third in the voting, marking his best finish and extending a run of four straight seasons in which he has received Norris votes.
If he’s going to take the next step in 2026-27, one area stands out: the penalty kill.
Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff pointed to that missing piece on Thursday, writing, "With the Sabres finally competitive, Dahlin's annual Norris chances are the best they've ever been," Larkin wrote Thursday. "The only thing missing from his profile is a major role on the penalty kill. He averaged the eighth-most shorthanded minutes among Sabres blueliners last season."
That has generally been Buffalo’s approach with Dahlin. The Sabres have kept his shorthanded workload relatively modest so they can preserve him for the rest of his heavy responsibilities at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
Even with that setup, Dahlin logged a massive load in 2025-26. He finished 20th in the NHL in average ice time at 24:11 per game, sitting more than three minutes behind league leader Quinn Hughes and more than two minutes shy of Norris winner Zach Werenski, who averaged 26:36.
But the way Buffalo’s blue line looks now, the Sabres may have to lean on him more when they’re down a man.
Bowen Byram, who was third among Buffalo defensemen in penalty-killing ice time last season, was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the offseason. Louis Crevier, who came back in the Byram deal, did get some PK reps with Chicago, but that role carries a different weight on a contender than it does for a rebuilding team. Olen Zellweger, another summer addition to Buffalo’s defense, does not appear likely to see much shorthanded time.
That leaves Lindy Ruff and his staff with a real decision. Dahlin could be asked to take extra shifts on the kill, particularly late in games when Buffalo is protecting a lead.
And there’s no question he can handle it. The 6-foot-3 defenseman has the tools to help cover the hole, and if the Sabres stay among the NHL’s elite teams in 2026-27, that added responsibility could matter in the Norris race.
The turnover on Buffalo’s penalty kill goes beyond Byram, too. Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, both of whom played shorthanded minutes after arriving in a midseason trade with the Winnipeg Jets, left in free agency. Up front, Alex Tuch and Jordan Greenway were also moved after ranking second and fourth among Sabres forwards in penalty-killing ice time.
That matters because Buffalo finished fourth in the NHL on the penalty kill last season at 81.9%.
So when training camp opens this month, Ruff and his staff will be piecing together both PK units almost from scratch.
Owen Power is another defensive option, though he may carry a bigger load on the power play now that Byram is gone. Power and Dahlin could end up sharing those PK2 minutes.
Peyton Krebs, after signing a four-year, $18 million extension, may also be asked to do more on the kill. Justin Danforth looks like a roster fit because of his PK work, even if he opens the season as the extra forward.
There’s a lot in flux for a special-teams group that played a major role in Buffalo’s long-awaited breakthrough last season. Avoiding a drop-off there will be a major priority, and Dahlin should be part of the answer.
His conditioning isn’t a concern, which means there’s nothing stopping Buffalo from giving him a couple more minutes per game if that’s what it takes to push him closer to the league’s best and strengthen his Norris case.
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