BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Reforming their identity as a Lindy Ruff team after more than a decade wandering the wilderness outside playoff contention, the Sabres opened training camp Wednesday with hard practice sessions to meet the competitive standard the returning coach seeks to implement. For all that's new at the downtown arena — the refurbished roof above a gleaming video scoreboard twice the size of its predecessor, a fresh slab of ice with a fresh coat of painted lines underneath — the Sabres are hoping Ruff's old-school approach can bring the franchise back to past glory and bury the longest postseason sabbatical in NHL history. An early exit for one of Buffalo's brightest stars has the potential to dim the team's optimism, however. How that could affect plans to select a new captain, an increased sense of urgency with an uncommon preseason schedule, and Ruff's early impressions are among the top takeaways from the the Sabres first training day of a renewed era. ‘A tough skate’ for Sabres in Lindy Ruff’s return to training camp Dahlin gets dinged The Sabres couldn't get through their first practice without losing their best player. Rasmus Dahlin was one of the first players on the ice in the morning, but the All-Star defenseman did not return after a resurfacing break midway through the session. Ruff did not provide a substantive update on what he termed a mid-body injury, "but it was one of those things that you’re passing a puck, and something happens," the coach said. "So precaution, got him off. He’s going to get looked at, and we’ll find out what’s going on." There is little indication that Dahlin has a serious injury. He could even be back on the ice Thursday morning. Though an extended absence might alter Buffalo's leadership outlook. Sewing the C Not only among the top scoring defenseman in the NHL, Dahlin has grown into team leader at age 24. He has been an alternate captain for three seasons, and last year Dahlin signed the largest contract in franchise history, paying him an average salary of $11 million over eight seasons. "He’s raised my level of compete and he’s made me want to be a better player," said forward Alex Tuch, an alternate captain when others were injured last season. "And that’s what he does to each and every guy. He expects a lot of each guy, and he’s been incredible each and every game. He really puts the most amount of pressure on himself." Bringing teammates together for offseason workouts in Europe fortified Dahlin's influence on what has been for the past couple years the league's youngest roster. "It's a big deal," general manager Kevyn Adams said. "I think it says a lot about Rasmus, the leader that he's grown into and become." It was presumed that Dahlin would be named the 21st full-time Sabres captain when traveling abroad next week to play an exhibition in Munich, Germany and open the regular season with games in Prague, Czechia. Ruff, the club's sixth captain, wished to get a closer look at the players in action before making that decision. However long Dahlin is off the ice could affect that timeline. 'Got to get right to it' The Sabres will hold three days of training camp before playing preseason games on Saturday and Monday at KeyBank Center. Then they embark for Europe. The 59 players on Buffalo's camp roster are being split into three practice groups. Most everyone making the trip overseas is together in the first group. “I’ve never had that before," Ruff said. "I put a lot of thought into that. There’s a part of that that tears at the heartstrings with all these young kids that get to come in and you’re mixing them with the NHL veterans and it’s kind of a thrill of a lifetime. "But there’s a greater need to get this group together quick and understand how they need to play and some of the puck decisions we need and the compete I wanted to see was NHL against NHL. I wanted to see guys who had a lot of games under their belt against guys who had a lot games under their belt. Sometimes the compete gets distorted when you’re first year guys or second year guys who are just starting to mature have to play against the fourth-year, fifth-year type of players." Adams set the agenda that "the season is starting" on the first day of training camp. "Day one on our step to try to do something special," Adams said. "You got to get right to it. Honestly, you'll see at 9 o'clock, it's our team pretty close. And that was by design because we don't have time to mess around." Looking forward As arena workers scrub away the faded mural of former players in KeyBank Center's Alumni Plaza, the winningest coach in Sabres history prefers to focus on the tough task at hand rather than the warm memories of seasons past. "It’s just work right now," Ruff said. "I’ve moved on from that point and making sure that we’re trying to cover off almost every detail so we can put ourselves in a great place to do what we want to do.” *** Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.