Victor Hedman, captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, took a 22-game leave for mental health reasons. He expressed gratitude towards his therapist for supporting him during this challenging time.
Key points
Victor Hedman is the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Hedman took a leave of absence for mental health reasons.
He was away from the team for 22 games.
Hedman expressed gratitude towards his therapist.
Lightning GM Julien BriseBois praised Hedman's handling of the situation.
Tampa Bay LightningVictor Hedman
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman on Sept. 9, 2024Credit: Candice Ward/NHLI via Getty
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman on Sept. 9, 2024
Credit: Candice Ward/NHLI via Getty
"It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one," Hedman said in a statement on Tuesday, May 5
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said he's "very proud" of how Hedman "handled it all" during the difficult period
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed mental health was the reason for his leave of absence from the team.
Hedman, 35, missed 22 games at the end of Tampa Bay's season while he was out on personal leave.
On Tuesday, May 5, Hedman said in a statement via the Lightning that he needed to "focus on" his mental health during that time.
"I've spent most of my life in this game, and nearly all of my career with this organization. Wearing that jersey â and serving as captain â is the greatest responsibility of my professional life," Hedman began.
"That responsibility doesn't only apply on the ice. 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," he shared.
Q&A
Why did Victor Hedman leave the Tampa Bay Lightning for 22 games?
Victor Hedman left the team for mental health reasons.
What did Victor Hedman say about his decision to step away from the team?
Hedman stated that it was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.
How did Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois respond to Hedman's leave?
Julien BriseBois expressed pride in how Hedman handled the situation during his absence.
What support did Victor Hedman receive during his leave of absence?
Hedman thanked his therapist for their support during his mental health challenges.
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Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 5, 2026Credit: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty
Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 5, 2026
Credit: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty
Hedman, whose season finished on Sunday night after the Lightning dropped their first-round series against the Montreal Canadians, continued, "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 said he's "been fortunate to have strong support" from his family, teammates and the Lightning organization, as well as his therapist. "And I'm in a much better place today," he said before encouraging fans to prioritize their own mental wellness.
"This is something that exists in our game more than people see. If this moment helps make it easier for other to take care of themselves when they need to, that matters," said Hedman.
Later on Tuesday, Hedman addressed the media in a press conference where he advised anyone struggling with mental health to ask for help from others.
"Just don't stick with your thoughts," he said. "There are a lot of people out there that can help you and that's what I found out. And like I said, it's not too late, either."
Hedman also spoke more about his therapist while addressing the media on Tuesday, revealing that she "has no clue what hockey is."
"She's learning, you know, that's kind of nice," Hedman said. "She's not focused on me as a hockey player, she's focused on me as a person, so it's been great. She's been a tremendous help. She's one of the big reasons I'm standing here today."
Lighting general manager Julien BriseBois said he's "very proud of how" Hedman "handled it all" on Tuesday.
"It was obviously a very difficult season for him," BriseBois said. "As always, he put the team first, he put his family, he put everyone else first and came in second. The courage he showed in being open today and addressing, not just today, but even when he left the team, it took a lot of courage to do that. That was the right thing to do for him, for us, for his family."
BriseBois added, âI'm really proud of him and the work he's done. I'm glad he's much better. I'm glad he's in a good spot and I'm glad he's going to be on our team next year and I expect him to have a good season."
