NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Buffalo Sabers captain Rasmus Dahlin has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team just months after his fiancee, Carolina Matovac, underwent a heart transplant, the team announced Friday.
Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to reporters on Friday and shared that Matovac had not suffered any setbacks, but that Dahlin would travel to Sweden as she continues to recover.
Carolina Matovac and Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabers pose on the red carpet at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 1, 2024. (Nicole Osborne/NHLI via Getty Images)
“[Dahlin] said everything is OK,” he said via ESPN. “I think it’s been incredibly tough. I completely understand what this young man is going through. I don’t think you can describe it. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and deal with what he dealt with. He has everyone’s support for this. This is bigger than hockey.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Ruff said there was no timetable for Dahlin’s return.
In an open letter to fans in September, Dahlin shared that Matovac had been feeling sick for several days, which led to her experiencing “major heart failure.”
“Fortunately, she received CPR on several occasions, up to a few hours at a time, to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without her receiving life-saving CPR, the outcome would have been unimaginable. It’s hard to even think of the worst-case scenario,” he wrote.
Matovac remained on life support for weeks before receiving the transplant in France.
Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabers skates during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on April 17, 2025. (Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images)
NHL STAR DENIES FELDE HAS RECEIVED HEART TRANSPLANT AFTER SUFFERING ‘MAJOR HEART FAILURE’ WHILE ON VACATION
“Without the incredible commitment, expertise, care and sensitivity of all the people who treated Carolina, we would not be in the position we are today, with Carolina recovering well and on the way to a full recovery.”
“While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated incredible determination, spirit, positivity and resilience that I am in awe of,” Dahlin continued. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, but it is something that we have learned so much from. We will continue to grow from these experiences and are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. We are truly blessed in so many ways and fully realize how lucky we are.”
Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabers prepares for a faceoff during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on October 9, 2025. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Dahlin, 25, enters his eighth NHL season after being selected first overall by Buffalo in the 2018 draft. The Swedish defenseman has topped 50 points in each of his past four seasons and was selected to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
He has nine points in 14 games this season.
