Dahlin is taking a leave of absence to return to Sweden

[Archie Lee]

23 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Perhaps there are additional reasons he went back to Sweden.  There almost certainly are additional considerations that went into the calculation.  His seeming inability to focus on his job 100% while he's performing it almost definitely being part of that calculation.

BUT to try to say (or more accurately, imply) those other reasons trump the reason that is the elephant in the room seem to be disingenuous.

When dealing with difficult personal matters, work can sometimes be a refuge, and sometimes a weight. 

[Big Guava]

45 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

When dealing with difficult personal matters, work can sometimes be a refuge, and sometimes a weight. 

I think the difference usually is if you feel there is something you can be doing about it or not or at least help with it in some way.

Many times things may be weighing on you but there is little you can actually do.  In this case there is a lot he can do.

[PASabreFan]

What happened had to be life-altering. "Life is short." He might be coming at this from a decidedly unAmerican cultural perspective. Maybe he's not interested in grabbing every last dollar. He's made a fortune. If he or his fianceé does not want to live in this country ... and you don't need a wild imagination to envision that, especially given that many Americans feel the same way right now ... maybe Ras says, hey, I fulfilled my dream and made a lot of money, but being home is most important. They play hockey in Sweden, I heard. The hockey wasteland that is Buffalo would surely play into this scenario.

Am I wrong to speculate? Then you all are wrong, too. The only official reason we have is "tending to a personal matter."

Edited Saturday at 06:09 PM by PASabreFan

[LGR4GM]

Dahlin has made about 33 million to date before taxes. He's got 77 or so million left on his current contract. 

[Porous Five Hole]

I’m not overthinking this. His heart and brain are focused on something other than his job right now, so he’s tending to that.  
 

Sorry to be blunt, but Rasmus watched his soulmate die. CPR means no heartbeat and no breathing. From his statement:

”While on vacation in France early this summer, Carolina began to feel sick for a few days, which quickly turned into her experiencing major heart failure. Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple of hours at a time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life.”

”She was transferred to a hospital where she remained on life support for weeks before she was a beneficiary of a heart transplant while still in France.”

Hockey is just a game. I hope he gets his heart and head right and I hope he takes as long as he needs. 

[PromoTheRobot]

16 hours ago, SwampD said:

Dude. What more do you want from me? It's been 14 years of crap. I'm still here. I love the Sabres. They are trash again and their star defensemen is out long term. If you can be positive about that, god bless you. They are not .500. They are 5 and 9. That's bad. I truly hope for a run of wins that surprises us all. That would be awesome, but this season has become a tire fire that I did not see coming, but have come to terms with. Apparently you have not.

I can be positive. You are all-in on finding the negative. You can't look at the now without dredging up the past. God bless you. Whatever gets you off.

Edited Saturday at 08:05 PM by PromoTheRobot

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

What would be nice is to see Owen Power step up. 

It would be nice but I wouldn't look for that to happen. Only way for them to have success right now is to play a tighter more grinding team system and get some good goaltending. If they try to rely on star power and individual play it'll fail miserably. Everybody has to get on the boards and grind. Battle. This is part of the Thompson problem too. He's just looking for the shot again. Every team knows this. He needs to grind as well. Stop being so predictable. 

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I can be positive. You are all-in on finding the negative. You can't look at the now without dredging up the past. God bless you. Whatever gets you off.

That's ridiculous. I'm all in on being realistic. If that happens to also be negative then so be it. If the Sabres end up in the playoffs this season, I will be shocked,… and thrilled.

I get tired of the posters here who talk about other posters more than they talk about hockey. I've actually liked some of the hockey we've seen the Sabres play this year and have said as much. I guess you ignored those posts. Some people only look for the negative, I guess.

[pastajoe]

They’ve got 3-5 NHL capable goalies. Time for Adams to trade one and acquire a veteran defenseman or center on a short term contract. Using Dahlin’s absence as an excuse for going on a losing streak is unacceptable.

[Huckleberry]

Östlund has vision, that pass to power was quick and fast.   

You can laugh but he is our Forsberg.

[gilbert11]

On 11/7/2025 at 10:41 AM, That Aud Smell said:

Aye yi yi. 💔

It's cliche but still very true: Some things are bigger than [hockey.]**

My earnest prayers go with you to Sweden, Rasmus.

** Insert any number of things here.

I would not be surprised if he decides family is more important, leaves the NHL and plays in Sweden.

[That Aud Smell]

7 minutes ago, gilbert11 said:

I would not be surprised if he decides family is more important, leaves the NHL and plays in Sweden.

this seems possible.

but given how insanely competitive he is, it seems unlikely.

he wants to be the best.

and yet … .

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, gilbert11 said:

I would not be surprised if he decides family is more important, leaves the NHL and plays in Sweden.

I'd be shocked

[Goldseatsaud]

I think he is done. Take the money and run

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, Goldseatsaud said:

I think he is done. Take the money and run

I think this is nonsense and what money? 

[Brawndo]

Dahlin is training with Frolunda while in Sweden 

[kas23]

53 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Dahlin is training with Frolunda while in Sweden 

Is he a therapist?

[inkman]

3 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Dahlin is training with Frolunda while in Sweden 

Im sure he’s just staying in shape.  Nothing to see here. 👀 If I was him, I’d make the change permanent but I doubt we’ll be so lucky.  

Edited 3 hours ago by inkman

[inkman]

On 11/8/2025 at 10:00 PM, Goldseatsaud said:

I think he is done. Take the money and run

 

On 11/8/2025 at 10:08 PM, LGR4GM said:

I think this is nonsense and what money? 

Uncle Terry is packing up Rasmus’s things now to speed along getting the $11 mill off the books ASAP.  

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

Im sure he’s just staying in shape.  Nothing to see here. 👀 If I was him, I’d make the change permanent but I doubt we’ll be so lucky.  

Make the change permanent?  So you want him to try to break the contract?  You think we would be better without him?  

[PASabreFan]

It's amazing how "journalists" and fans fall into line.

He practiced with the Swedish team. Period. If there's a quote from Rasmus explaining why he's there, can we see it?

Give me the facts.

[Eleven]

13 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

It's amazing how "journalists" and fans fall into line.

He practiced with the Swedish team. Period. If there's a quote from Rasmus explaining why he's there, can we see it?

Give me the facts.

Here are the facts:

 

On Monday, Dahlin unexpectedly showed up at Frölunda's training, writes journalist Henrik Leman on X. Leman also writes that Dahlin's plan is to return to Buffalo.

"Absolutely. My career continues."

https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/rasmus-dahlin-tranar-med-frolunda/ via Google translate.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Eleven

[LGR4GM]

24 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

It's amazing how "journalists" and fans fall into line.

He practiced with the Swedish team. Period. If there's a quote from Rasmus explaining why he's there, can we see it?

Give me the facts.

Let's see... he's played for Frolunda before Buffalo. I believe he is there in the offseason. I'd guess his fiancé is there as well. Why wouldn't he be welcomed there? 

His hometown is 1hr from Frolunda. 

1 hour ago, inkman said:

Im sure he’s just staying in shape.  Nothing to see here. 👀 If I was him, I’d make the change permanent but I doubt we’ll be so lucky.  

Children. Let it go. That's his pervious team and he's trying to stay in shape. Occams Razor.

Edited 1 hour ago by LGR4GM

[kas23]

My therapist comment was only half in jest. This guy is going through a ton. I don’t think his lack of engagement this year is due to a lack of skill. He needs more help navigating his emotions. I hope he is getting the help he needs. 

[Taro T]

40 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's see... he's played for Frolunda before Buffalo. I believe he is there in the offseason. I'd guess his fiancé is there as well. Why wouldn't he be welcomed there? 

His hometown is 1hr from Frolunda. 

Children. Let it go. That's his pervious team and he's trying to stay in shape. Occams Razor.

And, is there a reason we WOULDN'T want him to be practicing and working out while he's in Sweden? 

Pretty sure it'll be a good thing to have him in or at least close to game shape when he and his fiancee decide it's time for him to come back to this side of the pond and resume his day job.

Edited 1 hour ago by Taro T