The Buffalo Sabres may have their captain back sooner rather than later.
Rasmus Dahlin told reporters on Monday that he's "ready" to return after missing the team's last three games with an upper-body injury.
The Sabres defenceman took part in practice on Monday for the first time since Oct. 11 and is expected to suit up against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
“I think I’ll be ready. We’ll see here tomorrow and go from there,” Dahlin said.
His injury occurred last week in a win against the Florida Panthers, when he left early in the second period while reaching for his back after putting a shot on goal. Dahlin exited after 7:08 of ice time in the first period, chipping in a goal as part of the 5-3 victory.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Norris Trophy finalist from a year ago made it clear he wasn't all too concerned with the injury.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be long, let’s just say that. I didn’t think it was going to take a full week.”
“He had a couple good days while we were gone,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff added. “Got him back in practice and see how he handles that today. But I thought he looked good.”
Dahlin has two goals and two assists through six games this season.
Once back on the ice, the 26-year-old will try to replicate his stellar production from a year ago, when he racked up a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) in 77 regular-season appearances. He then added another four goals and 10 helpers in 13 games during the Sabres playoff run — the franchise's first post-season berth since 2011.
