Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, will look to make an immediate impact. Each of the past five teams to have the No. 1 pick have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs within two seasons.
But how much can the Sabres expect from Dahlin? In the past 20 years, 12 other defensemen have been drafted in the top three; five went directly to the NHL: Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers, No. 3 in 2002 NHL Draft; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings, No. 2 in 2008 NHL Draft; Zach Bogosian, Atlanta Thrashers, No. 3 in 2008; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, No. 2 in 2009 NHL Draft; and Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, No. 1 in 2014 NHL Draft.
The average rookie performance of those five was 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 73 games.
Hedman, who scored 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) as a rookie with the Lightning, went to the NHL from the Swedish Hockey League, the same jump Dahlin is expected to make this season. In Hedman's final season in the SHL, he had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 43 games for Modo. Dahlin had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 41 games last season for Frolunda.