Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin takes indefinite leave after fiancee nearly died in Europe

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking an indefinite leave of absence and returning to Sweden, where his fiancee is recovering from a heart transplant.

Carolina Matovac fell sick on a summer on vacation with Dahlin in France before her heart failed. Dahlin said in September she required CPR on 'multiple occasions and up to a couple of hours at a time' and then spent weeks on life support before receiving a new heart.

Now, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said that while Matovac hasn't suffered a setback, the team's captain Dahlin is going to be back in Sweden indefinitely.

'I think it's been incredibly hard,' Ruff told reporters. 'I fully 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 to have dealt with what he has dealt with. 

'He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.'

The 25-year-old Dahlin is in his eighth NHL season after being selected first overall by Buffalo in the 2018 draft. The Swede has topped 50 points in each of his past four seasons and was selected to represent his country at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Dahlin has nine points in 14 games this season. Ruff said it´s been difficult for Dahlin to stay focused during his fiancée´s recovery.

'I think it´s been incredibly hard. Not easy,' Ruff said. 'Hockey's our job, hockey's our lifeline, but family and personal trump anything else.'

The engaged couple released a letter through the Sabres website in September where they first explained what had happened on their vacation.

'Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario,' the statemend said.

'She was transferred to a hospital where she remained on life support for weeks before she was a beneficiary of a heart transplant while still in France.'

'Without the incredible commitment, expertise, care, and sensitivity of all the people who treated Carolina, we would not be in the position that we are in today, with Carolina recovering well and on the path to a full recovery.'

'While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated and incredible determination, spirit, positivity, and resilience that I am in awe of.'

'This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something that we have learned so much from.'