Lightning captain Victor Hedman says his personal leave this season was to address mental health
Victor Hedman, 35, had been around the team in recent weeks, even taking part in some skates. But the defenseman’s last game was in mid-March.
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed his absence over 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, 35, had been around the team in recent weeks, even taking part in some skates. But the defenseman’s 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. ” Hedman missed significant time earlier in the season with an elbow injury that required surgery in December. He returned before the Olympics and played for Sweden until tweaking something in pregame warmups before the quarterfinal against the U.