Rasmus Dahlin Trains with Frölunda Amid Fiancée's Health Crisis, Plans NHL Return

Rasmus Dahlin, the Buffalo Sabres defenseman, is currently training with the Swedish Hockey League team Frölunda as he takes a temporary leave from the NHL to attend to serious personal matters. This pause in his NHL season comes in the wake of a major health emergency involving his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, who suffered sudden heart failure while on a trip to France last summer. After being resuscitated multiple times and spending weeks on life support, Matovac underwent a heart transplant.

Buffalo's head coach, Lindy Ruff, confirmed Dahlin's indefinite leave, emphasizing the precedence of family over professional commitments by stating, "Hockey is our job, it is our lifeline. But family and the private always come before anything else." Despite this challenging period, Dahlin has expressed his determination to return to the NHL and continue his career with the Buffalo Sabres, declaring, "Absolutely. My career goes on."

In addition to training in Sweden, Dahlin has been selected to represent the Swedish national team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan in February 2026. His training with Frölunda provides a way to stay in form while being close to his family during this difficult time.

This development highlights Dahlin's commitment both to his personal life and professional ambitions, balancing the demands of recovery and elite competition. The NHL and SHL communities are closely watching his progress as he navigates this personal crisis with the support of his Swedish club and the Sabres organization.