As the dust settles on the back-and-forth news between the Buffalo Sabres and captain Rasmus Dahlin, we’re learning more about what actually transpired.
On the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast earlier this week, analyst and former NHLer Paul Bissonnette reported that Dahlin told general manager Kevyn Adams that if the Sabres’ fortunes don’t turn around quickly, he’s “gonzos.”
The defenceman emphatically denied the report that he had requested, in so many words, to be traded. On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided some additional clarity.
“So last week, Dahlin requested a meeting with Kevyn Adams, and I think he just wanted to know, ‘What’s our direction? What are you thinking, and where are we going?'” Friedman reported on Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I don’t think any ultimatum was delivered at all. But the Sabres know their guys aren’t going to be happy if they don’t start turning things around. … I think Dahlin really appreciated the opportunity to hear from the GM about where they were going.”
Friedman also noted that, in addition to assurances from the GM, Dahlin wanted to know what the plan was to get better, what tangible steps the organization was going to take and left the meeting satisfied with the answer.
That said, Sabres certainly didn’t stand pat around the March 7 deadline day. They signed veteran winger Jason Zucker to a two-year, $9.5-million contract extension and, perhaps their biggest move, sent centre Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for centre Josh Norris and defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Friedman noted that Cozens, who had a breakout year in 2022-23 but has struggled to match that production in Buffalo since, needed a change of scenery and as a natural centre, Norris fulfilled a need for the Sabres amidst a relatively bare centre market.
“I think (Dahlin) was looking for answers to his questions and he felt satisfied with the answers he got,” Friedman continued. “I think the players in Buffalo felt the trade they made was the kind of trade that at least needed to happen on some level. They needed change in there.
“I think the dressing room kind of liked and respected the fact Dahlin asked for a meeting with the general manager to hear what he had to say.”
Though Friedman can’t say for certain whether Dahlin’s meeting with management moved the needle when it came to deadline plans, he doesn’t believe it’s necessarily a coincidence.
For his part, Dahlin told reporters in Buffalo on Tuesday that, as captain, he wanted to be part of the solution for the Sabres.
“I have never said I want out of here. I’m not happy where we’re at. I don’t want to lose. We have to get better. I’ve never said I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear,” the 24-year-old Swede said.
“That bugs me, actually. I get pissed off by that,” he continued. “I haven’t even mentioned the word ‘leave.’ So, yeah, that’s just how it is.”
The Sabres are on track to miss the playoffs for the 14th straight year, sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference with 56 points. In their three games since the trade deadline, they have one win and two losses and are being outscored 13-6.
