Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has temporarily left the team for personal reasons, as announced on Wednesday. The 35-year-old captain has been absent for the last three games.
Hedman’s leave began following his early exit during the first period of a 6-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on March 19. This season, he has tallied 17 points, comprised of one goal and 16 assists, in 33 games.
Injury History and Comeback
This year has been challenging for Hedman, who missed 34 games due to an elbow injury that required surgery on December 15. He made a comeback on February 1 at the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, where the Lightning triumphed 6-5 over the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, contributing 10:18 of ice time.
Currently, the Lightning have a record of 44 wins, 21 losses, and 5 overtime losses. They are set to host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay is positioned second in the Atlantic Division, trailing the Buffalo Sabres by three points while holding two games in hand.
Team Sweden and Olympics Participation
Prior to his recent leave, Hedman participated in the Lightning’s final three games before joining Team Sweden for the 2026 Winter Olympics. He, unfortunately, missed the team’s 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA in the quarterfinals due to a lower-body injury sustained during warmups.
After recovering, Hedman returned to play on February 25 for the Lightning’s first 12 games following the break. However, he left the lineup again during the game against the Canucks.
Historic Achievements
Victor Hedman is a decorated player, notably winning the Norris Trophy in 2018, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman. In Lightning history, he ranks first among defensemen in the following categories:
- Games Played: 1,164
- Goals: 172
- Assists: 639
- Total Points: 811
Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 and received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2020 playoffs.
