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Victor Hedman Reveals Reason for Absence
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (personal) revealed on Tuesday that he missed the end of the season to focus on his mental health. The Lightning captain didn't play in the playoffs and sat out the final 15 regular-season games. "I've always believed that being a leader means doing what's best for the team," Hedman said in a social media statement. "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." In his statement, Hedman noted he's "in a much better place today." Hedman played in a career-low 33 games in 2025-26, posting 17 points (one goal, 16 assists). This was the first season of Hedman's four-year, $32 million contract.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
