Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin Replies Strongly to Trade Request Rumor

A comment from Paul Bissonnette on today's Spittin' Chiclets podcast has gone viral in Buffalo, regarding top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. BizNasty said "I don't dig for this information—it's given to me by the insiders that really move the needle:

"Apparently Dahlin met with (GM) Kevyn Adams, and said 'If this doesn't turn around fast, I'm gonzos'."

The Sabres All-Star defenseman was immediately asked about the rumor, and while the captain admitted that he did have a sit-down with Adams last week, he vehemently denied ever asking out.

"Who? I wanna be moved? I wanna be gone from Buffalo?" Dahlin asked with a smile. "No, I don't know what he's talking about. I have never said I want out of here," Dahlin said. "I'm not happy with where we're at, I don't want to lose. We have to get better. I've never said I want out of here, I thought that was pretty clear."

And the more he thought about it, the more it peeved him:

"That bugs me, actually. I get pissed off by that. I haven't even mentioned the word 'leave.'"

Dahlin, 24, is only in the first season of an eight-year, $11M AAV extension.

The Sabres are well on their way to their 14th consecutive season missing the playoffs, extending their NHL record.

"We have to turn this around, that's the bottom line," concluded Dahlin.

He's certainly doing his part, en route to career highs in assists and points, coming off three consecutive All-Star seasons.