NHL star Rasmus Dahlin reveals fiancée underwent heart transplant after vacation heart failure
Sabres captain says Carolina Matovac received a heart transplant in France after weeks on life support; expresses gratitude and resilience
Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin revealed in an open letter to hockey fans that his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, underwent a heart transplant after suffering major heart failure during a vacation in France earlier this summer. Matovac had been feeling ill for several days before experiencing a major heart failure, Dahlin wrote, and she received CPR on multiple occasions to keep her alive. She remained on life support for weeks before the transplant in France.
"Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable," he wrote in the message shared by the Sabres on Friday. Dahlin thanked the medical team, the NHL and NHLPA, and the Pegula family for their support, and said the experience reminded them to appreciate their experiences, the people closest to them, and the importance of fully living each day. While Carolina is still undergoing rehab to join him in Buffalo, she has demonstrated incredible determination, spirit, positivity, and resilience that he says he is in awe of.
Dahlin, 25, is entering his eighth NHL season after being selected first overall by Buffalo in the 2018 draft. The Swedish defenseman has topped 50 points in each of the past four seasons and was selected to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, according to The Associated Press. The letter’s disclosure underscores the personal toll of a medical crisis that interrupted the couple’s summer plans, while highlighting the continued support from teammates and the organization as Matovac recovers. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Sabres did not provide further updates on Matovac’s condition, but Dahlin’s message emphasized gratitude for the medical staff and the broader hockey community that rallied around them during a challenging period. As Dahlin begins another season with Buffalo, fans and peers will be watching closely to see how Matovac’s recovery progresses and when she may join him at games in Buffalo.
