Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a leave of absence from the team to return home to Sweden and address a personal matter, the club announced Friday.
Head coach Lindy Ruff said Dahlin has the team’s full support and emphasized that “everything is OK,” though there is currently no timetable for the defenseman’s return.
Dahlin and his fiancée, Carolina, previously shared in September that they endured a “traumatic experience” over the summer while vacationing in France. Carolina suffered major heart failure and required multiple rounds of CPR before being placed on life support and later receiving a heart transplant while still overseas.
Ruff acknowledged that the situation has understandably been “incredibly hard” for the 24-year-old, adding that the entire organization stands behind him. “This is larger than hockey,” Ruff said.
Dahlin has recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 14 games this season. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft has 369 points (84 goals, 285 assists) through 523 career games with Buffalo.
The Sabres (5-5-4) begin a road trip on Saturday when they face the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].