The Buffalo Sabres will be missing a key player on their blue line as Rasmus Dahlin takes a leave of absence for personal reasons, making him unavailable to play for an indefinite period.
The Sabres face a challenging situation with the potential loss of their best defenseman, even as they near the return of an important forward. Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Dahlin's absence and shared insights into the situation.
“Rasmus will be taking a temporary leave of absence to deal with a personal matter back in Sweden. He said everything is okay, and through this, he's got full support of our team.”
Dahlin had been performing well this season, recording one goal and eight assists in 14 games. The Sabres began the season slowly with three straight losses but have since improved to a 5-2-4 record.
His absence forces Ruff to rearrange the defensive lineup, especially on the top pairing alongside Mattias Samuelsson.
Dahlin has been a key figure on Buffalo's defense since being selected first overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. Last season, he posted impressive stats with 17 goals and 51 assists.
Sabres columnist Mike Harrington has offered further insight into Dahlin's reasons for taking time away from the team.
Summary: Rasmus Dahlin’s personal leave leaves a significant gap in the Sabres’ defense, challenging the team during a critical stretch of the season.