Victor Hedman Is Showing Signs of a Resurgence as the Lightning Captain Finds His Footing Again
Patrick Smith/Getty Images For nearly two decades, Victor Hedman has been one of the defining figures of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Key points
- “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.” His willingness to discuss those struggles offered a different perspective on the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete and a team captain.
- Hedman has looked more comfortable distributing the puck out of his own zone, particularly with the long stretch passes that have long made him such an effective transition player.
- With Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak also established on the blue line, Hedman’s return did not necessarily guarantee his previous place atop the defensive depth chart.
He ultimately revealed in May that he had stepped away to address his mental health, missing the final 15 games of the regular season and the entirety of the Lightning’s first-round playoff series against Montreal.
After an injury shortened 2025-26 season, Hedman is again looking more like the player the Lightning have relied on for years.
Additional details
- Hedman holds the Lightning franchise records among defensemen for games played (1,164), goals (172), assists (639), and points (811).
- Speaking publicly about the decision, Hedman described experiencing performance anxiety that had begun affecting his ability to play.
- While there is still room for improvement, his offensive production and flashes of his familiar playmaking ability suggest that the 35-year-old defenseman could be working his way back toward form.
- On March 25, the Lightning announced that Hedman would take a leave of absence for personal reasons.
- There were, however, questions about how Hedman would fit into the Lightning’s defensive rotation.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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