Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a go away of absence from the group to affix his fiancée in Sweden, the place she continues to recuperate from a coronary heart transplant.
There isn’t any timetable for when Dahlin will return to the Sabres. Coach Lindy Ruff was in a position to share that Dahlin’s fiancée, Carolina Matovac, hadn’t suffered any setbacks.
“[Dahlin] stated every thing is OK,” Ruff advised reporters Friday. “I feel it has been extremely exhausting. I absolutely perceive what this younger man goes via. I do not suppose you possibly can describe it. I am very captivated with the truth that nobody would need to stroll in his sneakers and to have handled what he has handled. He has the help of all people on this. That is bigger than hockey.”
Matovac started feeling sick final summer season whereas she and Dahlin have been vacationing in France. She skilled sudden coronary heart failure and acquired life-saving care en path to the hospital. Matovac has remained in Sweden to recuperate whereas Dahlin began the brand new season with Buffalo.
The 25-year-old blueliner is 2 years into his tenure as Sabres captain and has anchored the membership’s protection virtually since Buffalo drafted him first total in 2018. Given Matovac’s well being points, it has been a distracting season for Dahlin, however he has managed 9 factors in 14 video games and carries a heavy workload at over 24 minutes per night time.
However Dahlin expressed some frustration about his efficiency this season following Buffalo’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis on Thursday.
“I received extra to present. I am not happy,” Dahlin advised reporters. “I need to create extra. I need to do extra on the market. I am not happy, however I am on the way in which.”
Some issues are larger than a stat sheet or standings, although, and that is the place Ruff needs to see Dahlin’s focus going for now.
“Household and private come earlier than hockey,” Ruff stated. “Hockey’s our job, hockey’s our lifeline, however household and private trump the rest.”