Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin reveals fiancée’s near-death experience during vacation

Rasmus Dahlin revealed that his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, fell seriously ill during a vacation in France, suffering a major heart failure that required immediate medical intervention, he said in a letter posted on the Buffalo Sabres’ website. The Swedish defenseman said Matovac received CPR on multiple occasions, for hours at a time, and those lifesaving efforts saved her life.

Matovac was transported to a hospital in France and placed on life support before undergoing a heart transplant. She remains hospitalized, and Dahlin said she is expected to make a full recovery.

“While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated an incredible determination, spirit, positivity, and resilience that I am in awe of,” he wrote. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something that we have learned so much from. We will continue to grow from these experiences and are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. We are truly blessed in so many ways and fully realize how fortunate we are.”

Dahlin thanked the hospitals and their staffs for their efforts, Sabres ownership and brass, among others, and pointed to the importance of “CPR treatment, CPR training, organ donation, and heart-related issues that impact so many people and families around the world.” The trauma has given Dahlin, 25, new perspective on the precipice of his eighth NHL training camp.

Named the Sabres’ captain last season, Dahlin has collected 83 goals and 260 points in 509 NHL games over seven seasons. Drafted first overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, he is entering what figures to be another pivotal year with Buffalo.