Lightning's Victor Hedman Says Mental Health Focus Led to NHL Hiatus
- On Tuesday, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman announced his absence from the final 22 games and Montreal Canadiens playoff series was to address his mental health.
- Hedman played only 33 games this season, his career low, with injuries limiting him between Nov. 8 and Feb. 1, while representing Sweden at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
- The 35-year-old Swedish defenseman, a 2009 draft pick, has spent all 17 NHL seasons with the Lightning, winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and the 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy.
- Hedman said he is "in a much better place today," thanking his therapist and family, and added, "If this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves... that matters."
- Recent weeks saw Hedman return to the team for limited activity, including some skates, though his last game was in mid-March.
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Lightning captain Victor Hedman opens up about mental health absence after first-round playoff exit
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman’s absence in the final stretch of the regular season and during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was to address his mental health, he revealed in a statement Tuesday.Hedman, who also missed a significant amount of time this season due to injury, addressed the situation in a statement shared by the team. "I’ve spent most of my life in this game, and nearly all of my career with this organizatio…
Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman Breaks Silence On Season-Ending Absence - Tampa Free Press
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman cleared up months of speculation on Tuesday, revealing that his extended absence from the lineup was due to a personal decision to prioritize his mental health. The veteran defenseman, who is the heartbeat of the Lightning locker room, had been missing from game action since mid-March. […] Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman Breaks Silence On Season-Ending Absence
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