The Buffalo Sabres want their two cornerstone defensemen to stay with the team for years to come, and there appears to be mutual interest.
General manager Kevyn Adams revealed Wednesday that the Sabres are discussing contract extensions with Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Both players are eligible to re-up with the club on July 1.
"The first conversation was with both of them individually right after the season to say, 'Hey, I just want you guys to know ... we believe in you guys and think you're really important players for us moving forward,'" Adams said. "And there was an excitement from both of them and a clear message to me that they both want to be here long term, so that's the most important first step."
Adams added that he and several other members of the Sabres' management group then sat down with the agents for Dahlin and Power during the NHL combine, which took place in Buffalo earlier in June. The GM said the team and the players' representatives are now "in the process of working our way through it."
"We made clear to them we see them as really important people and pieces of our franchise moving forward, and they've made it clear to us they want to be here, so we'll keep working at it," Adams said. "But I'm excited about those guys."
Dahlin tied for fourth among NHL blue-liners with 73 points in 78 games last season. His goal (15), assist (58), and point totals were all career highs, and the 23-year-old ranked third league-wide in average ice time with 25:48. The 2022-23 campaign was his fifth in the NHL after the Sabres drafted the Swede first overall in 2018.
He's under contract through next season with a $6-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. Dahlin will be a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights if he doesn't sign a new deal before next summer.
Power, who Buffalo also drafted with the No. 1 pick three years after Dahlin, enjoyed a promising first season. The 20-year-old collected four goals and 31 assists in 79 contests while averaging 23:48 in ice time. He led all rookie defensemen in assists, points, and even-strength points, while pacing the entire class in average ice time.
The Canadian rearguard was voted a Calder Trophy finalist for his efforts. The NHL Awards will take place later this month in Nashville.
Power is entering the final season of his entry-level contract, which carries a cap hit of $916,667.
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