Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, shared deeply emotional news on Monday, revealing that they experienced the loss of their unborn child during a serious health emergency last year. The couple had kept the details private until now, but Matovac opened up in a heartfelt Instagram post, honoring what would have been their baby’s due date.
The tragedy unfolded last summer while the couple was vacationing in France. Matovac suffered sudden heart failure and was later flown to a hospital where she underwent a heart transplant. In her post, she revealed for the first time that she had been pregnant at the time of the emergency-and that the baby was lost during the crisis.
“Today was meant to be the day we finally met you,” she wrote alongside a photo of her and Dahlin aboard a medical transport plane. “You will always hold a special place in our hearts as our first baby, even though we never had the chance to meet.”
What makes this story even more poignant is how Matovac credits the pregnancy with saving her life. She explained that it was her concern for the baby’s well-being that pushed her to seek medical attention-an act that ultimately led doctors to catch the heart failure in time.
“Though you didn’t get to experience this world, you played a vital role in ensuring that I could continue to be a part of it,” she wrote. “If it weren’t for my worries about you, we might never have gone to the hospital.”
She ended the post with a message to their child: “You are our hero, and I hope you are being well cared for in heaven. We love you, baby Matovac Dahlin.”
The hockey community and fans rallied around the couple with an outpouring of support. Messages flooded social media, offering prayers and heartfelt sympathy.
One fan wrote, “Prayers for your family, Rasmus! Special prayers for your beautiful wife and your son.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, recognizing the strength it took to share such a personal story and commending the support shown by Dahlin’s teammates and coaches during the ordeal.
After the medical emergency, Dahlin took a leave of absence from the Sabres and returned to Sweden to be by Matovac’s side during her recovery. He rejoined the team in November.
Despite the off-ice challenges, Dahlin has continued to anchor the Sabres' blue line. Now in his eighth NHL season, the 25-year-old defenseman remains a cornerstone for Buffalo.
Selected first overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Dahlin has consistently produced from the back end, putting up over 50 points in each of the last four seasons. This year, he’s once again on pace to hit that mark, with 37 points-eight goals and 29 assists-through 47 games.
Dahlin’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet, especially in a season where his leadership has taken on even more meaning. Balancing the emotional weight of personal tragedy with the demands of being a team captain isn’t easy, but Dahlin has handled it with a quiet strength that’s resonated throughout the locker room.
This moment is a reminder that, behind the helmets and highlight reels, athletes are human. And in the face of unimaginable loss, Dahlin and Matovac have shown a level of courage and vulnerability that speaks volumes-not just about who they are as a couple, but about the kind of resilience that can’t be measured in points or minutes on ice.