BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rasmus Dahlin has always had a leader to look up to in his dad Martin, a former Swedish third division hockey player turned junior national team coach and instructor. It makes sense that Dahlin now gravitates to his sense of order and routine.

“Growing up he had two works and he was always on time and he was always so structured in his life. That’s kind of who I’ve been looking up to for sure,” Dahlin, 22, said. “It started a couple years ago. I’ve been young so I haven’t really been so much structured in my life but lately I have so it’s been helping me on and off the ice. I try and improve myself every day.”

While Martin Dahlin shared a proud moment with his son over the news of his alternate captaincy over the phone, and Rasmus’ brother Felix was elated for his younger sibling — “he’s more of a pump up guy” — the Swedish import has the keystone of his support system here in Buffalo with him in longtime girlfriend Carolina.

“It’s awesome, you know, we spend every day with each other,” Dahlin said. “She knows how much I work every day, and she helps me with so much with off-ice stuff. We’re kind of like a team. We’re in it together for sure.”

Dahlin’s consistent drive and pursuit of self-improvement not only lifts everyone around him, but brings him closer to his teammates. He enjoys leading by example, but has become a leading voice in the locker room when the moment demands it.

“I think it starts from day-to-day stuff. Winning every day and the small details really matter to get respect from the guys,” he said. “I’m not that guy that talks a lot. If I have something to say I’m going to make sure I can do it too. I just try to compete every day. In games, if something happens I’ll be there for the guys and they’ll be there for me. We’re a group.”

The top blue-liner is able to focus on the day-to-day stuff because he learned how to out the noise in a way that impresses general manager Kevyn Adams. After all, Dahlin has faced immense pressure and expectations since he wowed the SHL at age 16, flying to the top of the 2018 prospect class and obviously earning the first overall draft pick.

“[I] just don’t care,” Dahlin said with a laugh. “You know you’re young and you don’t really want anyone to say anything bad about you, but I’ve kind of learned through the years that it doesn’t matter what you do. You’re always doing something bad. It only makes my head spin if you’re searching for comments and stuff. So [I] just stay away from social media in season and don’t focus in on it. Everyone will keep talking even if you’re playing great, so it doesn’t really matter.”

What began with Don Granato’s early encouragement to play free and without fear of judgment as he took over as the Sabres head coach in 2021 has turned into a life motto for the young adult, who no longer cares what armchair analysts think of him. Rasmus Dahlin is unequivocally comfortable, confident and courageous in who he is and how he plays.

“Play fearless and just, you know, be yourself,” Dahlin said of his guiding principles as of late. “That thing I realized, too, last season — when I’m myself, I play better. I feel better. Everything is just better.”