Dahlin had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists), 30 hits and 36 blocked shots in 41 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League last season. He became the highest-scoring under-18 defenseman in the history of the SHL, the country's top professional league, with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 67 games over two full seasons. He was named best defenseman at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, with six assists for Sweden, and was the youngest player by seven years on his country's roster for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
"What's impressed me most about Rasmus is his maturity," Sexton said. "The talent, skill and hockey sense speaks for itself, but what has made a huge impression on me is his level of maturity. That will help in many ways his transition from the SHL to the NHL, particularly as an 18-year-old with high expectations as the first overall pick."
It will be entirely up to Sabres coach Phil Housley what role Dahlin will play as a rookie this season, Sexton said. Whatever that role is, the left-handed shot is expected to average between 18-20 minutes a game and begin the season in a top-four role.
It will be interesting to see whether Housley opts to put Dahlin with right-handed Rasmus Ristolainen on the top pair, or veteran Marco Scandella.
"We do our best to put our young players in situations to insulate them the best we can to give them the highest probability to succeed," Sexton said. "If they struggle, so be it, and if they succeed then they'll get exposed to greater opportunities. But how [Housley] will use Rasmus is something he'll sort out down the road."
The Prospects Challenge will offer Sabres fans a first glimpse of what Sexton said he hopes will be a promising future along the blue line.