Buffalo Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a leave of absence, the team announced on Friday.
“Rasmus will be taking a temporary leave of absence to deal with a personal matter back in Sweden,” head coach Lindy Ruff said.
“I will say this, he said everything is OK. Through this, he’s got full support by our team.”
In September, Dahlin released a statement pertaining to the health of his fiancée Carolina. Carolina had been on life support this summer before receiving a heart transplant.
“What this young man has gone through, I don’t think you can describe it and I don’t think you can feel what he’s feeling” continued Ruff. “I’m pretty passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and have to deal with what he’s dealt with. He’s undoubtedly got the support of everybody on this.”
The twenty-five year old Swedish defenseman is the Sabres best player,
a vitally important player at both ends of the ice.
His absence will be the harshest blow yet for a team fighting to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff conversation.
The loss of Dahlin, along with the absence of top forwards Josh Norris, Zach Benson and Jason Zucker due to injury and illness have left significant holes in the Buffalo attack.
The impact on the club’s offensive numbers has been felt both at even strength and on the power play.
Despite the Sabres having to embrace a next man up mentality on the ice, the most important thing remains the health and well-being of Dahlin and his family.
“This is larger than hockey,” said Ruff. “Family and the person come first before hockey. Hockey is our job, hockey’s our lifeline, but family and personal trump anything that comes before.”
No timetable has been set for Dahlin’s return.
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