The defenseman seemed to take a step back last season but took a gigantic leap forward this campaign as he was no longer indecisive with or without the puck. “If you're looking at individual growth and you're not mentioning Rasmus Dahlin, I think it's folly,” Buffalo forward Kyle Okposo said. “He took some steps this year, some giant ones. Just the way he figured out how to play on both sides of the puck this year. I think his defensive game was what gave him so much confidence offensively. However many points he had, it doesn't matter. But just the things that he was able to do and how he was able to figure out, 'OK, I can make this move at this time and I've got to flip the puck at this time.' That's something that only experience can tell you in the NHL. And he did a heck of a job figuring that out and growing this year.” The first overall pick in 2018 became a star in the NHL this season and had 13 goals and 40 assists, his best offensive season to date in the NHL. He has plenty more growth as he is just 22 and should be a top-15 or better, fantasy defenseman next season.

Dahlin has been on fire lately and is currently on a four-game points streak where he has three goals and seven points during the streak. This has been a breakout year for Dahlin who has 53 points and will team with fellow blueliner and fellow first overall pick Owen Power to give the Sabres a tough team to beat in the future.

Dahlin has hit personal bests in goals (12), assists (40) and points (52) through 77 games this season. "We're pushing … to get our defensemen more active offensively, and you've seen Dahlin's numbers increase over the last month, and that's been a real point of emphasis," coach Don Granato said. "You see it in our practices, incorporating the defense more actively. And it's more than when you activate your D, it's more scoring out of your forwards as well. So, yes, Dahlin's numbers will improve, but so will the offense." He has racked up 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his past 17 outings. 

Dahlin made his mark in the second period, scoring a goal against Martin Jones before helping to set up Tage Thompson's successful power-play opportunity just prior to the second intermission. On the whole this season, Dahlin has logged 11 goals and 47 points across 75 games played. He has posted two-point efforts in two of his last three games.