TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Lightning team captain Victor Hedman disclosed on Tuesday that he took time away from the ice during the season’s closing stretch to prioritize his mental wellness.
Through an official team statement, Hedman chose not to elaborate on the specific challenges he faced. The veteran defenseman sat out the Lightning’s concluding 22 regular season contests and remained absent for all seven playoff games during their opening-round elimination by Montreal.
The 35-year-old player had been present around the team facility in recent weeks and participated in some practice sessions. However, his final appearance in a game occurred in mid-March.
“Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health,” Hedman said. “It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.
“I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team. In this case, it also meant doing what was necessary to take care of myself, so I can be the best player, teammate, husband and father I expect to be.”
Earlier in the campaign, Hedman was sidelined for an extended period due to an elbow ailment that necessitated December surgery. After his recovery, he competed for Sweden in the Olympics until suffering an injury during pre-game preparation before their quarterfinal match against Team USA, preventing his participation.
During Tampa Bay’s season-ending media availability, he shared that he relied on support from close friend and former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, along with Ottawa netminder Linus Ullmark, who similarly took leave from the Senators for mental health reasons.
Selected second overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Hedman has spent his entire 17-year professional career with Tampa Bay, contributing to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. He earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable playoff performer during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season.
This season marked a career-low with just 33 game appearances due to his injury and subsequent personal leave.
Hedman expressed gratitude toward his teammates, the Lightning organization, his family, and his mental health professional for their ongoing support, noting he is “in a much better place today.”
“This is something that exists in our game more than people see,” Hedman said. “If this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves when they need to, that matters.”
