Rasmus Dahlin can skate, pass, shoot, and sees the ice as well as any teenager in hockey, and apparently, he can deliver huge hits as well.
The first-overall pick from the 2018 NHL Draft showed a bit of everything Friday at Buffalo Sabres development camp as he thrilled spectators at HarborCenter with his skill while also laying out centre Matej Pekar with a huge open-ice hit.
The hit occurred during a three-on-three drill and the cameras were rolling.
Everyone is still talking about it.
The Hit from @rasmusdahlin00 pic.twitter.com/C8KLws7yjp
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 29, 2018
Pekar, selected in the fourth round (94th overall) at the draft one week ago, was fine.
Here are a couple other angles of the hit.
"Are you listening Carubba!?" pic.twitter.com/jI6L7XEoEa
— The Instigators (@TheInstigators) June 29, 2018
@rasmusdahlin00 delivers a HUGE hit on Matej Pekar. pic.twitter.com/8xOrwnTsgd
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 29, 2018
Although the most memorable moment from Friday’s development camp session was Dahlin’s hit, it certainly wasn’t the only aspect of his performance that garnered praise.
Sabres skills coach Angelo Ricci raved about what he’s seen from the 18-year-old Swede.
“His ability, if you watch his hands, his movements, his shoulder fakes, his deception with the puck as a defenceman, you could tell he played forward—I believe he played forward a few years back—you could tell he has that in his game,” Ricci said. “And his cognizance skills on the ice and where to be, just that feel for it, you can’t teach that stuff. I don’t care who you are as a skills coach or a coach, that is just a God-given ability and he looks to be one of those generational type players, I’m telling you.”
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