DALLAS —The Buffalo Sabres are counting the hours before their first–overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, just the third time in franchise history they’ve had the top spot.

That means it’s just a matter of hours before defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is wearing the blue and gold.

The 18-year-old Swede is exactly the kind of player Sabres coach Phil Housley is looking for, a quick, athletic player who can move the puck.

Dahlin has proven himself in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 20 points in 41 games. He also had six assists in seven games for the Swedish team when they won the silver medal in the World Junior Championships here in Buffalo last winter.    

All of this suggests the Sabres could bring Dahlin up to the NHL in his rookie year without too much concern.

That’s where Dahlin seems to think he belongs, too.

“Yeah, I think I am ready right now to play in the NHL,” he’s said previously. “We will see what the team that picks me says, but, yeah, it’s exciting to see.”

The Sabres, with the worst-scoring defense in the NHL last season, need the help.

One thing that will help that transition is the number of Sabres Dahlin already knows. Having some friendly faces waiting at development camp should help accelerate his acclimation to the NHL.

"There are a few Swedish guys who just signed NHL contracts. Rasmus Asplund, Victor Olofson, Lawrence Pilut, I know (Robin) Lehner, the goalie," he said.

The NHL Draft starts at 7:30 p.m. in Dallas.