05/05/26 10:33:00
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05/05 09:00 CDT Lightning captain Victor Hedman says his personal leave this
season was to address mental health
Lightning captain Victor Hedman says his personal leave this season was to
address mental health
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, 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.S., which kept him from participating.
He told reporters at Tampa Bay's exit-interview day that he leaned on best
friend and former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, as well as Ottawa
goaltender Linus Ullmark, who also spent time away from the Senators to address
his mental health.
Hedman --- 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,
because of the injury and this subsequent absence.
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."
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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