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Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman’s absence during the final stretch of the regular season and during the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was to address his mental health, he revealed in a statement Tuesday.
Hedman, who also missed a significant amount of time this season due to injury, addressed the situation in a statement shared by the team.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Buffalo Sabers during the third period of an NHL game in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Chris O’Meara/AP)
“I have spent most of my life in this game, and almost my entire career with this organization. Wearing this jersey – and serving as captain – is the biggest responsibility of my professional life,” his statement began.
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“That responsibility doesn’t just apply on the ice. Over the last few months, I’ve made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health. It wasn’t 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, that 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 expanded on his statement during his exit interview with the media on Tuesday, adding that he feels “much better” and that it was the “right decision” for him.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman skates on the ice during warmups before a game against the Boston Bruins in the 2026 Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2026. (Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images)
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“This is something that exists in our game more than people see. If this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves when they need to, that’s important,” he said Tuesday. “I am proud of this team and I look forward to what lies ahead.”
Hedman, who spent his entire 17-year NHL career with the Lightning, missed the majority of the season with an elbow injury that required surgery in December. He returned in time for the Olympic break, playing for Sweden before being sidelined again before the quarterfinal match against Team USA.
After playing in just 33 games this season, Hedman said he was looking forward to returning next year.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman handles the puck during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 17, 2025. (Brian Bradshaw Sevald/Imagn Images)
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Tampa Bay was eliminated from the playoffs after suffering a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 on Sunday. The loss marked the organization’s fourth straight first-round exit.
