TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence in the final weeks of the season was caused by a need to address his mental health.
Hedman, in a statement released by the Lightning, did not provide specifics about what he has been dealing with. He didn't play in Tampa Bay's final 22 games of the season, including the seven playoff matchups in a first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Hedman had been around the team in recent weeks, even taking part in some skates. But his last game was 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.”
The 35-year-old Swedish defenseman - the No. 2 pick in the 2009 draft - has been with the Lightning for all 17 of his NHL seasons, helping the franchise win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in the 2020 pandemic “bubble.”
He played in only 33 games this season, by far the fewest of his career. Some of that was because of the absence, and some of that was because of injuries that limited him to only three games between Nov. 8 and Feb. 1. He played for Sweden at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Hedman thanked his teammates, the Lightning organization, his family and his therapist for their support and said he’s “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.”
