By Rachel Lenzi

Copyright buffalonews

Rasmus Dahlin is in the right place, as the Buffalo Sabres have completed the first two days of training camp. He’s not just in a good spot on the ice. He’s stronger and in a better state of mind after he and his fiancee went through one of the biggest scares of their lives.

Dahlin, 25, opened up publicly on Friday morning about a health episode his fiancee endured this summer in Europe that could have been grave. In a statement posted to the Sabres’ social media channels and its website, Dahlin went into detail regarding the health issues that resulted in his fiancee, Carolina Matovac, receiving a heart transplant earlier this summer in France.

“I see my fiancee work hard every day, and that makes me very motivated,” the Sabres captain said after the second day of training camp at KeyBank Center. “I’m good right now.”

Matovac had what Dahlin described in the statement as “major heart failure” while they were on vacation in France. She was placed on life support “for weeks” before she ultimately received a heart transplant. The Sabres confirmed Matovac is currently in Sweden.

“Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario,” Dahlin wrote in the statement.

Dahlin didn’t delve into much detail at the podium regarding Matovac’s condition, a medical diagnosis or what led to her cardiac issues, but said he has found a certain level of ease from being on the ice with his teammates.

“(They’re) very supportive,” Dahlin said. “They’ve been there for me since Day One, and I can’t be more thankful for all the support we’ve got. I can’t be more thankful for how hard she works every day.

“I don’t think when this stuff happens, you see each other as a captain or whatever. You’re just human with good people around you.”

Being on the ice doesn’t hurt, either, as Dahlin prepares for his third day of camp.

“We’ve done some testing now, the two days now. Great results,” Dahlin said. “I’m very fired up that Tommer (Tage Thompson) had such a good summer and had the best results in pretty much everything. The best player leads the way, that’s a really, really good thing.”

In the statement, Dahlin thanked the medical and rehabilitation staffs at Hospital Centre of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Hopitaux Universitaires de Marseille, France, Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden and the Hogsbo Rehabilitation Center.

He also thanked the Sabres as an organization, general manager Kevyn Adams, coach Lindy Ruff, the Pegula family, the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association and Dr. Scott Delaney of the NHLPA.

“(They) went above and beyond to ensure that not only was Carolina receiving the best medical treatment possible, but also comforting our families while ensuring we understood what was going on,” Dahlin wrote.

“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,” Dahlin wrote. “This has been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however, it is something that we have learned so much from.”

The full statement from Dahlin and Matovac can be found on the Sabres’ website.

Dahlin also asked for privacy as Matovac continued her recovery, but he and the Sabres almost immediately received an outpouring of support.

Saturday scrimmage

The Sabres will hold their first training camp scrimmage at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at KeyBank Center. The 61 players in training camp have been split into three teams and it’s likely the teams that scrimmage in the Blue vs. White format will be a blend of players from those teams.

“A lot of what we’re trying to incorporate, in the last couple days, to see how that looks defensively,” Ruff said. “Overall, how these guys, they’ve tested really well, just how they look in the scrimmage. I’m excited to see them.”

The scrimmage is not open to the public. The Sabres play their first preseason game at 7 p.m. Monday at Columbus, then host the Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at KeyBank Center.

The Sabres announced Friday that they have returned three players in training camp to their junior teams: defenseman David Bedkowski (Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League), defenseman Simon-Pier Brunet (Drummondville of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League) and goalie Samuel Meloche (Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL).