Dahlin eager to build on last season after Atlantic-winning Sabres snapped 14-year playoff drought

This is a far different place for the Sabres captain to be than a year ago, when Dahlin was dealing with the emotional weight of his fiancée requiring life-saving heart transplant surgery in Europe and facing familiar questions regarding Buffalo's NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

A year later, Carolina Matovac is healthy and rejoined Dahlin in Buffalo in March. The drought is a thing of the past : The Sabres clinched their first Atlantic Division title and won their first playoff series since 2007 before losing to Montreal in Game 7 in the second round.

"Night and day. I can actually focus on hockey and not have to worry every day of what's going on," Dahlin said. "I'm ready to go."