Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin Taking Leave of Absence - The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres Latest News, Analysis & More

Sabres' Captain Rasmus Dahlin Takes Leave of Absence

The Buffalo Sabres have confirmed that team captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a temporary leave of absence to return to Sweden. There is currently no timeline for his return.

Team Statement and Comments

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

said head coach Lindy Ruff during a press briefing earlier today. He added that family always takes priority over professional obligations.

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

Possible Reason for the Leave

Reporter Matthew Fairburn from The Athletic noted that Dahlin’s fiancée underwent a heart transplant earlier this offseason, which may explain his decision to step away. Fairburn also mentioned that everything appears to be fine with her recovery at this time.

Impact on the Team

As Dahlin focuses on personal matters, the Sabres will need to adjust on the ice. Defenseman Owen Power is expected to take on additional responsibilities on the top pairing during Dahlin’s absence.

Support from the Organization

The entire organization is expressing its full support and understanding as Dahlin prioritizes family over hockey. Some situations simply matter far more than the game itself.

Author’s summary: Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has temporarily returned to Sweden for personal reasons, with the team’s full support and no timeline set for his comeback.

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The Hockey Writers The Hockey Writers — 2025-11-07

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