The Buffalo Sabres and superstar defenceman Rasmus Dahlin have come to terms on a new eight-year, $88 million contract.
The new contract, which begins in 2024-25, will carry an average annual value of $11 million.
Dahlin, 23, finished tied for fifth in defenceman scoring last season with 73 points.
The first-overall pick in 2018 has 233 points in 355 games over his first five seasons.
“He’s so competitive,” Sabres captain Kyle Okposo said in an article on the team’s website. “That’s probably his best leadership quality, how competitive he is. He just wants to win all the time. He wants to be the best. He wants to be on the ice in every situation. He’s been incredible.”
According to Capfriendly.com, the new contract will put Dahlin in a tie with Drew Doughty for the second-highest annual salary for a defenceman when it begins. Erik Karlsson of the Penguins leads the way with an AAV of $11.5 million.
