As Sabres fans have known for years, Rasmus Dahlin is one of hockey’s very best defensemen.
NHL Network just ranked Buffalo’s captain No. 4 on its annual “Top 20 Defensemen Right Now” list entering the 2026-27 season. Dahlin is coming off a career-best year in which he collected 74 points (19+55), sixth most among NHL blueliners, finished third in Norris Trophy voting and was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team.
The 26-year-old led the Sabres to an Atlantic Division title and their first playoff appearance since 2011. There, Dahlin leveled up with 14 points (4+10) in 13 games, including a heroic five-point effort to fight off elimination in Game 6 at Montreal.
Dahlin has gradually reached superstar status in eight seasons since being drafted first overall, earning Norris votes each year since 2022-23. In that four-season span, he’s second among all defensemen with 71 total goals (and fifth with 274 points).
The 2026-27 season is less than two months away, and while the Sabres’ roster underwent some turnover this summer, they’re still built to contend with Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Mattias Samuelsson and others leading the way.
Here’s NHL Network’s full “Top 20 Defensemen Right Now” list, which had Dahlin at No. 7 a year ago.
- Cale Makar, COL
- Quinn Hughes, MIN
- Zach Werenski, CBJ
- Rasmus Dahlin, BUF
- Miro Heiskanen, DAL
- Lane Hutson, MTL
- Matthew Schaefer, NYI
- Jake Sanderson, OTT
- Mortiz Seider, DET
- Evan Bouchard, EDM
- Charlie McAvoy, BOS
- Jaccob Slavin, CAR
- Adam Fox, NYR
- Brock Faber, MIN
- Roman Josi, NSH
- Josh Morrissey, WPG
- Jackson LaCombe, ANA
- Victor Hedman, TBL
- Shea Theodore, VGK
- Devon Toews, COL
