Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman has revealed what kept him off the ice for the last part of the NHL regular season and the playoffs, acknowledging in a statement released by the team that he “made a decision to step away and focus on my mental health.”
The team previously announced on March 25 that Hedman was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. But those reasons were never disclosed – until now. He was placed on long-term injured reserve and did not return to the ice as the Lightning saw their season end with a first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.
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“I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team,” Hedman said in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 5. “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.”
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who is in the running (listed alphabetically):
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who is in the running (listed alphabetically):
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams Award (coach) finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams finalist: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Dan Muse
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams finalist: Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina Trophy (goaltender) New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina finalist: Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) finalist: Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng finalist: Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar.
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng finalist: Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player) finalist: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay finalist: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton Trophy (perseverance) nominee: Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Garrett Wilson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: San Jose Sharks goalie Laurent Brossoit
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews
The standout defenseman last played in a game for Tampa Bay on March 19. Over his 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the Lightning, he has played 1,164 games, tallying 172 goals and 639 assists for 811 points.
A nine-time All-Star and 2018 Norris Trophy winner, the 35-year-old Hedman also captured the Conn Smythe Trophy when he led the Lightning to a 2020 Stanley Cup title.
“Wearing this jersey – and serving as captain – is the greatest responsibility of my professional life. That responsibility doesn’t only apply on the ice,” Hedman said. “Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Hedman explains mental health break from Lightning
