Dahlin to Use Olympic Experience to Boost Sabres

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin returns from Olympics with renewed focus on playoff push

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:19pm

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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is back from the Olympics, where his Swedish team was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Despite the disappointing finish, Dahlin said he gained valuable experience handling pressure and playing against the world's best players. Dahlin is eager to apply those lessons to help the Sabres, who are in the midst of a playoff race for the first time in Dahlin's 8-year NHL career.

Why it matters

Dahlin's Olympic experience could provide a boost to the Sabres as they make a push for the playoffs. The 23-year-old defenseman is a key part of Buffalo's core, and his growth and development will be crucial to the team's success. The Sabres are in the thick of the playoff race, sitting second in the league in points percentage, and Dahlin's leadership and skills could be the difference-maker.

The details

Dahlin said he enjoyed the experience of representing Sweden at the Olympics, even though they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Team USA in overtime. He was disappointed with the result but is eager to shift his focus back to the Sabres and their playoff push. Dahlin was one of Sweden's best players in the tournament, recording a goal and four assists in five games. However, he was frustrated that his coach, Sam Hallam, did not utilize him in overtime or on the penalty kill.

  • Dahlin returned to Buffalo on Sunday after the Olympics and was on the ice for practice on Monday.
  • The Sabres' last game was on February 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

A 23-year-old defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who was the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He represented Sweden at the 2026 Olympics.

Tage Thompson

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who won Olympic gold with Team USA.

Brady Tkachuk

The captain of the Ottawa Senators, who had a controversial play against Dahlin during the Olympics.

Sam Hallam

The head coach of the Swedish Olympic hockey team, who Dahlin felt did not utilize him properly during the tournament.

Lucas Raymond

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who was also one of Sweden's best players at the Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“It was awesome to be at the Olympics, to represent the country, to hang out with the Swedish guys speaking Swedish, but I wanted different results when it comes to hockey, so it's a sour taste, but we've got to move on.”

— Rasmus Dahlin (audacy.com)

“We competed for the puck and nothing happened on the play, so we scored a goal so it didn't really matter, but I wanted a power play, but we scored anyway, so I was happy.”

— Rasmus Dahlin (audacy.com)

“It's not my decision, I wanted to be out there, that's for sure, so it is what it is, I can't do anything about it.”

— Rasmus Dahlin (audacy.com)

“It was fun, almost every game was a must win for us, so I got a chance to work on handling emotions and handling pressure, so that was awesome and I got better at that and playing against the best was awesome too, so I had a great experience, but I wanted a different result, but I think I did a pretty good job.”

— Rasmus Dahlin (audacy.com)

“There was one situation there where he decided not to hit me in the corner, so that was nice. I think he had a bomb when I was on the ice, so he's a stud, it's fun to play with him that's for sure.”

— Rasmus Dahlin (audacy.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Dahlin's Olympic experience, despite the disappointing finish, has provided him with valuable lessons on handling pressure and playing against elite competition. As the Sabres make a push for the playoffs, Dahlin's growth and leadership will be crucial to the team's success, and his renewed focus and excitement could be the spark the team needs to maintain their impressive play.