BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin on Tuesday refuted part of a report from a popular podcast that claimed the All-Star defenseman made it known to the front office that he wants out of Buffalo if the team doesn’t improve quickly.
Dahlin, 24, went as far as to say he gets “pissed off by that” type of comment.
The question arose Tuesday after Paul Bissonnette, a former enforcer turned media personality, had this to say on an episode of Barstool Sports’ “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast:
“I hate to do this to Sabres fan right now. And keep in mind, I don’t dig for this information, it’s given to me by the people who really, really matter and who move the needle as far as the insiders,” Bissonnette said. “But apparently Dahlin met with [Sabres general manager] Kevyn Adams and said, if this doesn’t turn around fast, I’m gonzo.
“If they don’t get him help, and get it to him quick,” Bissonnette added later, breaking into song, “nah-nah-nah-nah, hey hey hey, goodbye.”
Dahlin acted surprised by the question.
“Who? … I want to be moved?” he asked reporters in the Sabres locker room.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Dahlin said. “I have never said I want out of here. I’m not happy where we’re at. I don’t want to lose. We have to get better. But I’ve never said I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear.”
Dahlin added: “Yeah, I mean, I don’t even – that bugs me, actually. I get pissed off by that. I haven’t even mentioned the word leave.”
The comments come as the Sabres sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, all but certain to extend their NHL record playoff drought to 14 seasons. The team was mostly quiet at last week’s trade deadline, dealing Dylan Cozens to Ottawa in their one bigger move, but did re-sign two veteran pending free agents rather than flipping them for future considerations.
“If guys don’t want to be here, they don’t want to be here, you can’t really do anything about it. But I don’t see that in this room,” Dahlin said. “We have a lot of really really good competitors who want to turn this around, and that’s what gives me the most hope.”
Dahlin, the first overall draft pick in 2018, is under contract with the Sabres through 2032 at an average annual value of $11 million. His contract reportedly contains a no-movement clause that will kick in next season.