The NHL cleared its calendar for the 4 Nations Face-Off, a tournament featuring players from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, offering a sneak peek at next year’s Winter Olympics. Three Buffalo Sabres will represent their countries in this five-day event. Let’s take a closer look at these players and the reasons behind their selection.
Rasmus Dahlin
Sabres’ captain and veteran defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is no stranger to the international stage, having first caught Buffalo’s eye with his standout performance at the 2018 World Juniors. He’s also been a fixture at the NHL All-Star Game, earning selections in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Since signing with the Sabres nearly seven years ago, Dahlin has been a model of consistency, contributing on both ends of the ice. A record-setter, he became the first NHL defenseman to score in each of the first four games of the 2022-23 season. He also matched Phil Housley’s milestone as the second Buffalo blueliner to notch 70 points in a season and was the first since Alexei Zhitnik in 1997-98 to record at least 15 goals in a single campaign.
Never one to leave the scoring solely to the forwards, Dahlin frequently steps up with key goals and assists. One of his most memorable moments came on March 20, 2022, when he fired the game-winning overtime goal past Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, securing a crucial victory for the Sabres.
As much as he excels offensively, the Sabres’ captain is just as impactful on defense, coming through in critical moments. One standout example came a year after his overtime heroics when Buffalo faced the Carolina Hurricanes on April 8, 2023. With the game tied 3-3 in the third period, the Hurricanes had a prime chance to take the lead. Dahlin used his 6-foot-3 frame to block Carolina forward Martin Necas from capitalizing on an open Sabres net. His clutch defensive play allowed Buffalo to regain possession and push the puck up the ice, where Tage Thompson scored the go-ahead—and ultimately game-winning—goal.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Sabres’ starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is one of three goalies representing Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Now in his fifth season with Buffalo, UPL holds a career .902 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.98 goals-against average (GAA) as of this writing. He officially secured the Sabres’ starting role on January 6, 2024, with a stellar 40-save performance in a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, though he had already posted solid stats in previous seasons.
Statistically, Luukkonen’s best seasons are neck-and-neck between 2021-22 and 2023-24. In terms of save percentage, 2021-22 stands out with his career-best .917 SV%. However, his GAA was slightly better in 2023-24, posting a 2.57 compared to 2.74 in 2021-22.
During the 2023-24 season, Luukkonen compiled an impressive 27-22-4 record with five shutouts, marking the most wins by a Sabres goalie in a single season since Ryan Miller’s 30-win campaign in 2005-06. His shutout total was also the highest since Miller recorded six in 2011-12.
UPL delivered clutch saves throughout the 2023-24 season, denying scoring opportunities from elite NHL forwards such as Jimmy Vesey, Max Domi, and Connor McDavid. More recently, Luukkonen played a key role in the Sabres’ 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on January 6, 2025. He stood tall in the shootout, stopping all three of Washington’s attempts to secure his second shootout win of the season.
Henri Jokiharju
Defenseman Henri Jokiharju will suit up for Team Finland alongside Urho Vaakanainen, serving as injury replacements for Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpaa. Given hockey’s physical nature and the demanding schedule of the five-day tournament, Jokiharju is likely to see some ice time.
Wearing No. 10, Jokiharju began his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018 before being traded to Buffalo a year later in exchange for forward Alexander Nylander. In his first season with the Sabres, he tallied four goals and 11 assists. Last season, he posted a plus-14 rating and ranked fourth among Buffalo defensemen with 106 blocked shots. Jokiharju signed a one-year contract with the Sabres on July 5, 2024, leaving his future with the team beyond this season uncertain.
Jokiharju has had his share of standout moments, proving that Dahlin isn’t the only Sabres defenseman capable of making game-changing plays. On February 17, 2024, Buffalo faced the Minnesota Wild on the road in a hard-fought battle that went into overtime tied 2-2. Jokiharju stepped up in the clutch, scoring the game-winning goal in OT to secure a 3-2 victory for the Sabres.