Dahlin 'doesn't need to be the savior' for Sabres, GM says

BUFFALO --Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, should not be expected to revive the Buffalo Sabres by himself, general manager Jason Botterill said Monday.
"He doesn't need to be the savior," Botterill said during the 18-year-old defenseman's introductory press conference in Buffalo. "It's a situation where we're excited about our young players such as [center] Jack [Eichel], [center] Sam [Reinhart], [defenseman] Rasmus Ristolainen. He can be part of this group and sort of grow together.

"Look, we certainly have to have better results on the ice. But I think communicating and talking with other players, we're certainly excited to bring Rasmus into our group here and just see] how they can grow together as a core."
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Dahlin joins forwards Eichel (No. 2 pick in 2015) and Reinhart (No. 2 pick in 2014) as part of a core that was drafted either first or second by Buffalo in the past five years. Ristolainen was the No. 8 selection in 2013.
If Dahlin, who played for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League this season, is feeling any pressure to help the Sabres return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, he wasn't showing it Monday.
"I'm just so motivated to win hockey games so I'll bring everything I can to this team and try to win hockey games," said Dahlin, who skated in a Sabres jersey for the first time. "That's what I think about.
"I know how big this is to me. I'm super excited and super proud. I can't wait to get this season started."

Dahlin is the third player in Sabres history to be selected with the first pick in the NHL Draft, following forwards Gilbert Perreault in 1970 and Pierre Turgeon in 1987.
Dahlin was presented a Sabres jersey by Botterill bearing No. 26, the same number he wore with Frolunda.
"It's an amazing feeling," Dahlin said. "Just to actually put on this jersey with this logo on, it's amazing. I've been waiting to do this for so long. Finally I'm here."
Dahlin will have his mother with him in Buffalo to help him settle into life in the NHL. He'll also have a few potential teammates from Sweden, including forward Johan Larsson, goaltender Linus Ullmark, and 2017-2018 Swedish Hockey League Defenseman of the Year Lawrence Pilut, who signed with the Sabres on May 15.
"[It will help] a little bit, but I have to start knowing all the other guys in the locker room too," Dahlin said. "Of course it's [going to help with] getting comfortable, but I need to speak some English too."
The Sabres will do their part to help Dahlin, starting at Buffalo's development camp that opens Wednesday.
"We're excited about this week, just to get him acclimated a little bit with people within our organization," Botterill said. "Rasmus will come back in the fall and between the rookie tournament, and then we have seven preseason games, we'll try to get him in quite a few of those games just to get him acclimated to the North American game and set him up for success at the start of the season."
Lead photo courtesy of Bill Wippert/Buffalo Sabres