Top 5 NHL Defenseman: Rasmus Dahlin
The former number-one overall pick just turned 23 and is coming off the best season of his career so far.
After posting a solid 53 points two years ago, Dahlin increased his total by 20 last year, dropping 15 goals and 73 points for the up-and-coming Buffalo Sabres.
He posted a 53% 5v5 expected-goals percentage, and the Sabres won his minutes (53%) and he was 10th among NHL defenders with 33 5v5 points.
Without Dahling the Sabres lost their 5v5 minutes and were basically a horrible team. All together, the Sabres ranked 21st in the NHL in 5v5 expected-goals percentage, but when Dahlin played they were 3rd.
He’s that good.
Most U23 points from a defenseman in the salary cap era:
— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) August 9, 2023
232 — Rasmus Dahlin
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169 — Zach Werenski
166 — Quinn Hughes
163 — Erik Karlsson
162 — Drew Doughty
People really forget how young Dahlin is. pic.twitter.com/GeJsyOrmkZ
Dahlin is just hitting his stride, he’s only 23 and he will likely be way higher on this list after next season. I think there are players who I don’t have on this list who you could quibble about not being 5th in place instead of Dahlin, but none of them are still getting better.