Lightning captain Victor Hedman says his personal leave this season was to address mental health

TL;DR

Victor Hedman, captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, took personal leave this season to address his mental health. He missed the final 22 games, including playoffs, and emphasized the importance of self-care for athletes.

Key points

Victor Hedman took leave to address mental health
Missed final 22 games of the season
Hedman emphasized the importance of self-care
Has been with the Lightning for 17 seasons
Played only 33 games this season

Mentioned in this story

Victor HedmanMontreal Canadiens

Tampa Bay LightningStanley Cup

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 had been around the team in recent weeks, even taking part in some skates. But his 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.” The 35-year-old Swedish defenseman — 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. Some of that was because of the absence, and some of that was because of injuries that limited him to only three games between Nov. 8 and Feb. 1. He 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’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.” \\_ AP NHL:

Q&A

Why did Victor Hedman take a personal leave from the Lightning?

Victor Hedman took personal leave to focus on his mental health, stating it was a necessary decision for his well-being.

How many games did Victor Hedman miss this season?

Victor Hedman missed a total of 22 games this season, including all seven playoff matchups.

What impact did Hedman's absence have on the Lightning's playoff performance?

Hedman's absence contributed to the Lightning's first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs.

Lightning captain Victor Hedman says his personal leave this season was to address mental health

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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