Sabres captain Dahlin taking temporary leave of absence from team

Sabres Captain Rasmus Dahlin Takes Temporary Leave

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin will temporarily step away from the team, head coach Lindy Ruff announced on Friday. Dahlin plans to return to his native Sweden during this period, with no clear timeline set for his return.

Coach Ruff’s Statement

“Rasmus will be taking a temporary leave of absence to deal with a personal matter back in Sweden,” Ruff said. “I will say this, he said everything is ok, and through this he’s got the full support by our team.”

Ruff emphasized the emotional challenge Dahlin faces:

“I don’t think you can feel what he’s feeling. I’m pretty passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and have dealt with what he dealt with. He has, undoubtedly, got the support of everybody on this.”

Prioritizing Family Over Hockey

Ruff highlighted the importance of personal matters over sport:

“Family and person come before hockey. Hockey is our job, hockey is our lifeline, but family and personal trump anything that comes before.”

Background on Dahlin’s Leave

According to The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn, Dahlin is returning to Sweden to support his fiancée, who recently underwent a heart transplant after health issues this summer. The team confirms that she is currently stable.

Support from the Organization

Dahlin has the full backing of the Sabres organization during his absence, with respect to his need to be with family during this difficult time.

Rasmus Dahlin’s temporary leave underscores the importance of family support above professional commitments, highlighting the human side of athletes.

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TSN TSN — 2025-11-07

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