1st Overall – Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin (D, Frolunda HC, SHL)
After a number of years of being absolutely terrible and yet consistently missing out on the first overall pick, the Sabres finally had luck on their side this year.
And there’s really nobody else to pick than Rasmus Dahlin.
Ever since he turned pro in Sweden, he’s been given high praise from scouts and coaches all around the world and been compared to guys like Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t drool over a player of their calibre on their defensive core?
Dahlin is everything a coach could ask for. He’s very, very good offensively, reliable in every zone and he’s an accomplished open ice hitter. He put up 20 points in 41 games as an 18 year old in Sweden’s top league and he will be a cornerstone defenseman for the Sabres when they draft him. (Yes, when. Not if, when.)