Victor Hedman says Lightning leave was for mental health

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman said his late-season personal leave was to address his mental health and that he is in a better place now.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman said Tuesday that his late-season personal leave was tied to his mental health, offering his first public explanation for an absence that carried through the club’s playoff exit.

Hedman, in a statement released by the Lightning, did not describe the specific issues he has been facing. He said he chose to step away over the past couple of months to focus on his well-being.

“It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one,” Hedman said.

The 35-year-old defenceman missed Tampa Bay’s final 22 games of the season, a stretch that included all seven playoff games in a first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens. His last game came in mid-March, though he had been around the team in recent weeks and took part in some skates.

Hedman framed the decision as both personal and connected to his role as captain. “I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team,” he said. “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.”

A longtime cornerstone of the Lightning, Hedman was the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL draft and has spent all 17 of his NHL seasons with Tampa Bay. He helped the franchise win consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2020.

This season, Hedman appeared in 33 games, the fewest of his career by a wide margin. In addition to his personal leave, injuries limited him to only three games between Nov. 8 and Feb. 1. He also 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 is “in a much better place today.” He also said mental health challenges are present in hockey more often than many people realize, adding that if his disclosure makes it easier for others to seek care, “that matters.”

The Lightning did not provide further details in the statement, leaving Hedman’s playing outlook and any next steps to be clarified later.