Rasmus Dahlin Takes Leave for Personal Reasons
Rasmus Dahlin, a star player for the Sabers, has taken time off to address a “personal issue,” as head coach Lindy Ruff mentioned during a press conference in Sweden on Friday.
Dahlin and his fiancée, Karolina Matback, recently shared some life-altering news: he underwent an emergency heart transplant while they were on vacation in France earlier this year.
Ruff noted that there hasn’t yet been a decision on when Dahlin will return to the team. He emphasized that Matback’s condition isn’t currently worsening, which is, at least, a slight relief.
“He said everything was fine,” Ruff told the media. “He has the full support of our team.”
He continued, “I think it’s been incredibly tough. It’s not easy. I completely get what this young man is experiencing. Honestly, it’s one of those things that’s hard to explain. I don’t think anyone can truly grasp his feelings. He has our support, and frankly, this goes beyond hockey.”
Both Dahlin and Matback, who are 25 years old, described their challenging summer in a joint Instagram post from September, ahead of the 2025-26 season.
While in France, Matback suddenly became very ill, suffering from “severe heart failure.” Thankfully, she received CPR, which saved her life.
“Had she not received life-saving CPR, the outcome would have been unimaginable,” they reflected. “It’s almost too painful to consider the worst-case scenario.”
After her medical emergency, Matback was hospitalized in France and later underwent a heart transplant.
The couple has since been in rehabilitation, preparing for their return to Buffalo.
They expressed gratitude to healthcare workers, the NHL, the Players Association, the Sabers, and team owners, the Pegula family, for their unwavering support.
“This has definitely been the hardest chapter in our lives, but we’ve learned so much through it,” they said. “We plan to grow from these experiences and are incredibly appreciative of the love and support we’ve received. We feel very fortunate.”
Dahlin has played 14 games for the Sabers this season, contributing one goal and eight assists.
This marks his eighth season in the NHL, all with the Sabers. Earlier this season, he faced a tough matchup against Panthers star Brad Marchand.
“Family and individuals come first before hockey,” Ruff emphasized. “While hockey is central to our lives, family and personal well-being must always take precedence.”
