Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
The debut goal in the SHL
On November 12, 2016, he scored his first goal in the SHL in his sixth game.
The talented young defender played 67 games for Frölunda in the SHL before taking the plane over to the other side of the Atlantic for games in the NHL.
Midsummer night 2018, Rasmus Dahlin became the second Swedish player in hockey history to be chosen as number one in the NHL draft.
New address: Buffalo Saberes
- It was completely magical when it happened, says Dahlin and corrects his black cap during SportExpressen's interview at a hotel in central Stockholm.
The contract over three years is worth almost SEK 100 million if all bonuses were to take effect.
Rasmus Dahlin will never forget that dizzying night just over two years ago.
It had been 29 years since Mats Sundin in 1989 became the first Swede to be drafted as number one when the forward chose Quebec Nordiques.
"I got goosebumps"
- It was a dream come true, says Dahlin.
How proud did you become?
- I had goosebumps for several weeks, but then the circus started. Everything went so incredibly fast to stand there as a draft pick for me to start performing.
How was it?
- Educational. I have developed a lot during my two seasons in Buffalo, says Dahlin, who was 18 years and 181 days old when he became Buffalo's youngest player ever to be noted for a point in the NHL.
Photo: JOHANNA LUNDBERG / BILDBYRÅN
1 /9
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Thomas Kingdahl
Share
Copy link
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
The debut goal in the SHL
On November 12, 2016, he scored his first goal in the SHL in his sixth game.
The talented young defender played 67 games for Frölunda in the SHL before taking the plane over to the other side of the Atlantic for games in the NHL.
Midsummer night 2018, Rasmus Dahlin became the second Swedish player in hockey history to be chosen as number one in the NHL draft.
New address: Buffalo Sabers.
- It was completely magical when it happened, says Dahlin and corrects his black cap during SportExpressen's interview at a hotel in central Stockholm.
The contract over three years is worth almost SEK 100 million if all bonuses were to take effect.
Rasmus Dahlin will never forget that dizzying night just over two years ago.
It had been 29 years since Mats Sundin in 1989 became the first Swede to be drafted as number one when the forward chose Quebec Nordiques.
"I got goosebumps"
- It was a dream come true, says Dahlin.
How proud did you become?
- I had goosebumps for several weeks, but then the circus started. Everything went so incredibly fast to stand there as a draft pick for me to start performing.
Photo: JEROME MIRON / BILDBYRÅN ACTION IMAGES
How was it?
- Educational. I have developed a lot during my two seasons in Buffalo, says Dahlin, who was 18 years and 181 days old when he became Buffalo's youngest player ever to be noted for a point in the NHL.
Now he has played 141 games for Buffalo and accounted for a phenomenal 84 points.
What is life like in the United States?
- Now I start to feel comfortable with most things. It has been an educational period and new things that one must learn. Buffalo is a working class city. They love hard work.
Rasmus Dahlin lives in a large townhouse just a two-minute drive from the home arena Keybank Center.
The Hockey Temple is centrally located in the city of more than 250,000 inhabitants and is located midway between Lake Eire and Lake Ontario near the Canadian border.
- There are many of my teammates who live near me. It has been an extra security.
The Swedes Marcus Olofsson, Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark, Lawrence Pilut and Johan Larsson also play in Buffalo.
- We hang out quite a lot together. And it's nice to be able to speak Swedish too.
Hanging in Toronto
Was the language a big change?
- Yes, in the beginning I mostly answered yes and no to most questions, but now I am starting to get a little better.
What do you do when you are not playing hockey?
Photo: JOHANNA LUNDBERG / BILDBYRÅN
1 /9
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Thomas Kingdahl
Share
Copy link
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
The debut goal in the SHL
On November 12, 2016, he scored his first goal in the SHL in his sixth game.
The talented young defender played 67 games for Frölunda in the SHL before taking the plane over to the other side of the Atlantic for games in the NHL.
Midsummer night 2018, Rasmus Dahlin became the second Swedish player in hockey history to be chosen as number one in the NHL draft.
New address: Buffalo Sabers.
- It was completely magical when it happened, says Dahlin and corrects his black cap during SportExpressen's interview at a hotel in central Stockholm.
The contract over three years is worth almost SEK 100 million if all bonuses were to take effect.
Rasmus Dahlin will never forget that dizzying night just over two years ago.
It had been 29 years since Mats Sundin in 1989 became the first Swede to be drafted as number one when the forward chose Quebec Nordiques.
"I got goosebumps"
- It was a dream come true, says Dahlin.
How proud did you become?
- I had goosebumps for several weeks, but then the circus started. Everything went so incredibly fast to stand there as a draft pick for me to start performing.
Photo: JEROME MIRON / BILDBYRÅN ACTION IMAGES
How was it?
- Educational. I have developed a lot during my two seasons in Buffalo, says Dahlin, who was 18 years and 181 days old when he became Buffalo's youngest player ever to be noted for a point in the NHL.
Now he has played 141 games for Buffalo and accounted for a phenomenal 84 points.
What is life like in the United States?
- Now I start to feel comfortable with most things. It has been an educational period and new things that one must learn. Buffalo is a working class city. They love hard work.
Rasmus Dahlin lives in a large townhouse just a two-minute drive from the home arena Keybank Center.
The Hockey Temple is centrally located in the city of more than 250,000 inhabitants and is located midway between Lake Eire and Lake Ontario near the Canadian border.
- There are many of my teammates who live near me. It has been an extra security.
The Swedes Marcus Olofsson, Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark, Lawrence Pilut and Johan Larsson also play in Buffalo.
- We hang out quite a lot together. And it's nice to be able to speak Swedish too.
Hanging in Toronto
Was the language a big change?
- Yes, in the beginning I mostly answered yes and no to most questions, but now I am starting to get a little better.
What do you do when you are not playing hockey?
- Hangs out with teammates, goes to concerts and basketball in Toronto. It's only 160 km there, I like that city. When friends from Sweden come over, we usually try to get there.
What is it like to roam the streets of Buffalo, can you be at peace?
- Yes sometimes. But often people come up and want to talk. There is also snow on the streets when it is winter. I like that. Buffalo can be bitterly cold too.
How big is the interest in hockey in the city?
- Great, it is noticeable that the fans are hungry for success. We have not been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011. Then there was a loss in the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Now Rasmus Dahlin will be involved in leading the Buffalo Sabers to new successes - and he thinks the team is on the right track. The aim is to get to the playoffs next season.
- We have a young and hungry team that has taken big steps just since I arrived.
The corona pandemic shut down all world sports during the spring. Rasmus Dahlin has been in Gothenburg since March.
Has built muscle
- I have trained, in the gym and on the ice, cooked food, met friends and my girlfriend Carolina.
Photo: JOHANNA LUNDBERG / BILDBYRÅN
1 /9
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Thomas Kingdahl
Share
Copy link
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
The debut goal in the SHL
On November 12, 2016, he scored his first goal in the SHL in his sixth game.
The talented young defender played 67 games for Frölunda in the SHL before taking the plane over to the other side of the Atlantic for games in the NHL.
Midsummer night 2018, Rasmus Dahlin became the second Swedish player in hockey history to be chosen as number one in the NHL draft.
New address: Buffalo Sabers.
- It was completely magical when it happened, says Dahlin and corrects his black cap during SportExpressen's interview at a hotel in central Stockholm.
The contract over three years is worth almost SEK 100 million if all bonuses were to take effect.
Rasmus Dahlin will never forget that dizzying night just over two years ago.
It had been 29 years since Mats Sundin in 1989 became the first Swede to be drafted as number one when the forward chose Quebec Nordiques.
"I got goosebumps"
- It was a dream come true, says Dahlin.
How proud did you become?
- I had goosebumps for several weeks, but then the circus started. Everything went so incredibly fast to stand there as a draft pick for me to start performing.
Photo: JEROME MIRON / BILDBYRÅN ACTION IMAGES
How was it?
- Educational. I have developed a lot during my two seasons in Buffalo, says Dahlin, who was 18 years and 181 days old when he became Buffalo's youngest player ever to be noted for a point in the NHL.
Now he has played 141 games for Buffalo and accounted for a phenomenal 84 points.
What is life like in the United States?
- Now I start to feel comfortable with most things. It has been an educational period and new things that one must learn. Buffalo is a working class city. They love hard work.
Rasmus Dahlin lives in a large townhouse just a two-minute drive from the home arena Keybank Center.
The Hockey Temple is centrally located in the city of more than 250,000 inhabitants and is located midway between Lake Eire and Lake Ontario near the Canadian border.
- There are many of my teammates who live near me. It has been an extra security.
The Swedes Marcus Olofsson, Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark, Lawrence Pilut and Johan Larsson also play in Buffalo.
- We hang out quite a lot together. And it's nice to be able to speak Swedish too.
Hanging in Toronto
Was the language a big change?
- Yes, in the beginning I mostly answered yes and no to most questions, but now I am starting to get a little better.
What do you do when you are not playing hockey?
- Hangs out with teammates, goes to concerts and basketball in Toronto. It's only 160 km there, I like that city. When friends from Sweden come over, we usually try to get there.
What is it like to roam the streets of Buffalo, can you be at peace?
- Yes sometimes. But often people come up and want to talk. There is also snow on the streets when it is winter. I like that. Buffalo can be bitterly cold too.
How big is the interest in hockey in the city?
- Great, it is noticeable that the fans are hungry for success. We have not been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011. Then there was a loss in the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Now Rasmus Dahlin will be involved in leading the Buffalo Sabers to new successes - and he thinks the team is on the right track. The aim is to get to the playoffs next season.
- We have a young and hungry team that has taken big steps just since I arrived.
The corona pandemic shut down all world sports during the spring. Rasmus Dahlin has been in Gothenburg since March.
Has built muscle
- I have trained, in the gym and on the ice, cooked food, met friends and my girlfriend Carolina.
Today, the scale points to 93 kilos. That's 13 kilos more than when he was on stage during the NHL draft.
- Lucky that I gain weight so I do not train unnecessarily, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. I feel stronger but still agile.
He is in Stockholm for two days to be one of the guest coaches during a hockey camp in Tumba that New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad arranges together with Sports Heart and Elite Hockey Agency.
- I myself was at a hockey camp as a kid. It is obvious and important for me to be able to give back to my sport.
The players at the camp welcomed the NHL star by hitting his clubs in the ice when he was introduced. Later in the evening, Rasmus Dahlin played an all-star match arranged by Sports Heart.
When are you going back to the United States?
- I do not know yet. Later this fall maybe. I simply have to wait and see what decisions are made when it all starts again.
Rasmus Dahlin's girlfriend is named Carolina.
They met in Gothenburg where she still lives.
- It was the same year I moved away from home, says Rasmus Dahlin. She's as old as I am today
Photo: JOHANNA LUNDBERG / BILDBYRÅN
1 /9
Rasmus Dahlin does not hesitate when he says that he will be the best in the world.
The 20-year-old's fantastic journey has really only just begun.
He tells SportExpressen about his dream salary, life in the USA - and his girlfriend Carolina.
- We met five years ago and have been connected ever since, says the NHL star.
Thomas Kingdahl
Share
Copy link
Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo Sabers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs that are currently underway in Canada. He has been in Gothenburg since March and built muscle for new adventures that await.
For two days he visited Stockholm to be one of the guest coaches at Sports Hearts hockey camp in Tumba.
Rasmus Dahlin is casually dressed during our interview in the lobby of one of Stockholm's nicer hotels.
He is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a black cap.
He does not make a big deal of himself, he has never really done that outside the ice.
But put Rasmus Dahlin on a pair of skates and give him a club and he will be transformed in a fraction of a second into a superstar who puts fear in the world's best team. Both offensively and defensively.
Opted out of bandy
The question of his choice of sport must of course be asked directly.
If you come from Lidköping as you do, you should play bandy in Villa, right?
- Yes, so maybe it is, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. But I come from a hockey family. Almost everyone on my dad's side has played hockey.
You did not even try to play bandy?
- Yes, I was actually right away and won the school championships.
Rasmus Dahlin was 15 years old when he moved away from home. From the security of the small town next to Lake Vänern. From mother Åsa, father Martin, big brother Felix and little sister Ella.
The big city of Gothenburg - and games in Frölunda awaited.
What did your parents say?
- It was a big step for mom and dad to let go of their 15-year-old son and that I would start taking care of myself. Stand on own legs.
How did it go?
- Good, I had an apartment. We were three guys from Lidköping who moved at the same time. It made it easier. They were a year older.
How did you cook?
- We ate mostly meatballs and pasta. Things you could not fail at. And tacos when we would indulge in it.
The move 130 km south meant a lift in terms of hockey.
- Frölunda is a good club. They took good care of us young people. After the training we got food. We were fine.
Rasmus Dahlin's journey had begun and it went without any detours towards the stars.
The debut goal in the SHL
On November 12, 2016, he scored his first goal in the SHL in his sixth game.
The talented young defender played 67 games for Frölunda in the SHL before taking the plane over to the other side of the Atlantic for games in the NHL.
Midsummer night 2018, Rasmus Dahlin became the second Swedish player in hockey history to be chosen as number one in the NHL draft.
New address: Buffalo Sabers.
- It was completely magical when it happened, says Dahlin and corrects his black cap during SportExpressen's interview at a hotel in central Stockholm.
The contract over three years is worth almost SEK 100 million if all bonuses were to take effect.
Rasmus Dahlin will never forget that dizzying night just over two years ago.
It had been 29 years since Mats Sundin in 1989 became the first Swede to be drafted as number one when the forward chose Quebec Nordiques.
"I got goosebumps"
- It was a dream come true, says Dahlin.
How proud did you become?
- I had goosebumps for several weeks, but then the circus started. Everything went so incredibly fast to stand there as a draft pick for me to start performing.
Photo: JEROME MIRON / BILDBYRÅN ACTION IMAGES
How was it?
- Educational. I have developed a lot during my two seasons in Buffalo, says Dahlin, who was 18 years and 181 days old when he became Buffalo's youngest player ever to be noted for a point in the NHL.
Now he has played 141 games for Buffalo and accounted for a phenomenal 84 points.
What is life like in the United States?
- Now I start to feel comfortable with most things. It has been an educational period and new things that one must learn. Buffalo is a working class city. They love hard work.
Rasmus Dahlin lives in a large townhouse just a two-minute drive from the home arena Keybank Center.
The Hockey Temple is centrally located in the city of more than 250,000 inhabitants and is located midway between Lake Eire and Lake Ontario near the Canadian border.
- There are many of my teammates who live near me. It has been an extra security.
The Swedes Marcus Olofsson, Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark, Lawrence Pilut and Johan Larsson also play in Buffalo.
- We hang out quite a lot together. And it's nice to be able to speak Swedish too.
Hanging in Toronto
Was the language a big change?
- Yes, in the beginning I mostly answered yes and no to most questions, but now I am starting to get a little better.
What do you do when you are not playing hockey?
- Hangs out with teammates, goes to concerts and basketball in Toronto. It's only 160 km there, I like that city. When friends from Sweden come over, we usually try to get there.
What is it like to roam the streets of Buffalo, can you be at peace?
- Yes sometimes. But often people come up and want to talk. There is also snow on the streets when it is winter. I like that. Buffalo can be bitterly cold too.
How big is the interest in hockey in the city?
- Great, it is noticeable that the fans are hungry for success. We have not been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011. Then there was a loss in the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Now Rasmus Dahlin will be involved in leading the Buffalo Sabers to new successes - and he thinks the team is on the right track. The aim is to get to the playoffs next season.
- We have a young and hungry team that has taken big steps just since I arrived.
The corona pandemic shut down all world sports during the spring. Rasmus Dahlin has been in Gothenburg since March.
Has built muscle
- I have trained, in the gym and on the ice, cooked food, met friends and my girlfriend Carolina.
Today, the scale points to 93 kilos. That's 13 kilos more than when he was on stage during the NHL draft.
- Lucky that I gain weight so I do not train unnecessarily, says Rasmus Dahlin and laughs. I feel stronger but still agile.
He is in Stockholm for two days to be one of the guest coaches during a hockey camp in Tumba that New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad arranges together with Sports Heart and Elite Hockey Agency.
- I myself was at a hockey camp as a kid. It is obvious and important for me to be able to give back to my sport.
The players at the camp welcomed the NHL star by hitting his clubs in the ice when he was introduced. Later in the evening, Rasmus Dahlin played an all-star match arranged by Sports Heart.
When are you going back to the United States?
- I do not know yet. Later this fall maybe. I simply have to wait and see what decisions are made when it all starts again.
Rasmus Dahlin's girlfriend is named Carolina.
They met in Gothenburg where she still lives.
- It was the same year I moved away from home, says Rasmus Dahlin. She's as old as I am today.
Does she like hockey?
- She comes from a sports family, but is not a big fan of hockey actually.
What is it like to have a relationship at a distance?
- It works. We both work hard but are heard as often as we can when I'm in the US. Carolina has also been over to me a couple of times.
Rasmus Dahlin became stone rich overnight when he signed his three-year contract with Buffalo.
How has money changed your life?
- Not much when I'm home in Sweden. I live in my parents' apartment in Gothenburg. They pay for food when we eat. It's almost like it was when I lived at home as a 15-year-old.
Have you not indulged in anything for the money you earn?
- Yes, I bought a Porsche Panamera. Over the years, I have become more and more of a car guy. I have also started watching F1. It is clear that life as an NHL professional is different from what I had when I lived in Gothenburg. I fly back and forth across the continent and live in fancy hotels.
Do you have any role models in ice hockey?
- I watch a lot of Victor Hedman, he is cruel and up there at the top. I also like Erik Karlsson's way of playing.
Rasmus Dahlin's youth idol is named Peter Forsberg.
- I have watched a lot of clips online when he played. I started playing as a forward myself. "Foppa" has an enormous ability to compete, a damn psyche. I think that made him so good.
You are just over 20 years old now. What will you be doing in ten years?
- I play hockey. I will continue to train hard and try to be what I have always dreamed of and aim for. To become the best in the world.
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