Rasmus Dahlin: Salary, Leave, Fiancée, and Elite Debate

Few things are tougher in sports than watching a franchise player navigate personal and professional storms at the same time. Rasmus Dahlin, the Buffalo Sabres’ captain and No. 1 pick from 2018, has been doing exactly that — between a sudden leave of absence to care for his fiancée’s heart transplant recovery and an $88 million contract that makes him one of the NHL’s highest-paid defensemen — and this article pulls together the latest on his salary, his personal life, and why many still debate whether he’s truly elite.

Team: Buffalo Sabres ·
Position: Defense ·
Age: 24 (as of 2024) ·
Drafted: 1st overall in 2018 ·
Height: 6’3″ ·
Weight: 204 lbs

Eight key facts about Dahlin, one pattern: his career is still in its early chapters — but the financial stakes are already at the top of the league.

What happened to Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancée?

Who is Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancée?

Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancée is Carolina Matovac. In September 2024, the Sabres captain disclosed that Carolina had been rehabbing in Sweden after a heart transplant, Buffalo Hockey Beat (local Sabres beat reporter) reported. The NHL.com team practice report added that she experienced heart failure during the summer and was recovering from the transplant (NHL.com, official team report).

Did Rasmus Dahlin break up with his fiancée?

There is no public evidence of a breakup. The couple’s relationship status has not been officially updated since the health crisis. The leave of absence that Dahlin took in early 2025 was described as a personal matter in Sweden, NHL.com (team report) noted, consistent with supporting a partner’s recovery.

The implication: any speculation about a breakup is unfounded. The information available points to a couple navigating a severe medical crisis together.

Why is Dahlin taking a leave of absence?

When did the leave of absence start?

An AP-syndicated report published in early 2025 stated that Dahlin was the Sabres captain when he took a leave of absence (Yahoo Sports/AP, wire service). The NHL.com practice report specified that he was taking time to attend to a personal matter in Sweden, with no timetable for his return (NHL.com, official team report).

How long is Dahlin’s leave of absence?

Buffalo Hockey Beat later reported that Dahlin had temporarily left the team for a personal matter and then rejoined the Sabres after a temporary leave (Buffalo Hockey Beat, local Sabres coverage). The exact duration was not specified, but the language suggests it was a short-term absence.

The pattern: Dahlin’s leave is tied to a family health emergency, not a performance issue. The team has supported him fully, and his return indicates the situation is stabilizing.

What is Rasmus Dahlin’s salary?

Rasmus Dahlin contract details

On October 9, 2023, Dahlin signed an eight-year, $88 million contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres (NHL.com, official league announcement). The average annual value is $11 million, which made it the richest contract in franchise history and the second-highest salary for a defenseman in the NHL at the time (behind Erik Karlsson) (NHL.com, press conference coverage). ESPN reported that the extension made Dahlin the Sabres’ highest-paid player in annual salary (ESPN, sports media).

Salary cap hit

According to Spotrac, Dahlin’s 2024-25 base salary is $8 million, with a $5 million signing bonus and a cap hit of $11 million (Spotrac, salary cap tracker). The Hockey News reported that the deal pays Dahlin $13 million in year one, including the signing bonus (The Hockey News, Sabres team coverage).

The trade-off: Dahlin is paid like a top-5 defenseman, but his team has not yet made the playoffs during his tenure. The contract bets on his prime years starting now.

Is Rasmus Dahlin elite?

Rasmus Dahlin’s career stats

Dahlin recorded 59 points in 2023-24, a career high, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2019 (Wikipedia). He has been selected to the NHL All-Star Game twice (2022, 2024). In Norris Trophy voting, he finished 12th in 2022-23 and 7th in 2023-24 (Wikipedia).

Comparison to top defensemen

Among defensemen age 24 or younger, Dahlin ranks in the top 5 in points per game over the last two seasons. However, he has not yet received a Norris Trophy nomination (top 3). Experts noted his offensive instincts and skating are elite, but defensive consistency remains a question mark (NHL.com, press conference coverage).

Why this matters: Elite status is a spectrum. Dahlin is clearly in the tier just below the top 5, but his contract places him among the highest-paid. The next two years will determine whether he grows into that bracket or becomes a cautionary tale.

What team does Rasmus Dahlin play for and what position?

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He was drafted first overall by the Sabres in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (Wikipedia). He has spent his entire career with the organization.

Defenseman role

Dahlin plays defense, specifically as a left-shot, offensively oriented defenseman. He was named captain of the Buffalo Sabres on September 26, 2024 (Wikipedia). He is the first Swedish-born captain in franchise history.

The catch: The Sabres have not made the playoffs since 2011, a drought that predates Dahlin’s arrival. His leadership will be judged largely by whether he helps end that streak.

For the Sabres, the next 12 months will define Dahlin’s legacy. A playoff appearance would validate his $11M cap hit. Another season of personal turmoil and missed games, however understandable, could shift the narrative from “elite defenseman” to “what if.” For Buffalo fans, the choice is clear: support their captain through the storm, or watch the window close.