It wouldn't have been surprising if Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin was in the running for the Norris Trophy as the halfway mark of the 2025-26 NHL season approached. The fact Mattias Samuelsson is in that discussion instead is downright shocking.
Samuelsson entered the campaign as one of Buffalo's most criticized players, and rightfully so. He struggled so much last season that his average ice time dropped below 20 minutes, which led to conversations within the fanbase about whether the front office should buy out the remainder of his contract, and he's long battled injury issues.