Kyle Okposo first saw the fire in Rasmus Dahlin in 2018, when Dahlin was an 18-year-old rookie in Buffalo and only months removed from being selected first overall in the NHL Draft.
Dahlin was as competitive as he was talented, but his emotions ran high and low.
"Now it burns a little bit differently," Okposo said recently. "The same fire is still in there for him, the stove just isn't at 700 degrees, it's at 350. And it's more of a slow burn where the meat's going to be cooked well, like it's going to be exactly the way it should be."
Dahlin, supported by the freedom to play fearlessly from coach Don Granato and the "be yourself" culture fostered by veterans like Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons, experienced a year of growth in 2021-22, evolving from talented prospect to team leader in the process.
The role was made official this past weekend. With Okposo's appointment as the 20th full-time captain in Sabres history, Dahlin was announced as an alternate alongside Girgensons.
'It's a slow burn' | How Dahlin has emerged as a leader with Sabres
Defenseman enters his 5th NHL season and 1st as an alternate captain
© Scott Balzer