TAMPA, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Tampa Bay Lightning 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 .
Hedman, 35, had been around the team in recent weeks, even taking part in some skates. But the defenseman’s last game was in mid-March.
鈥淥ver the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health,鈥� Hedman said. “It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.
鈥淚鈥檝e always believed that being a leader means doing what鈥檚 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.鈥�
Hedman missed significant time earlier in the season with an elbow injury that . He returned before the Olympics and played for Sweden until tweaking something in pregame warmups before the quarterfinal against the U.S., which kept him from participating.
He told reporters at Tampa Bay’s exit-interview day that he leaned on best friend and former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, as well as Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark, who also spent time away from the Senators .
Hedman 鈥� the No. 2 pick in the 2009 draft 鈥� has been with the Lightning for all 17 of his NHL seasons, helping the franchise win in 2020 and 2021. He won the in the 2020 pandemic 鈥渂ubble.鈥�
He played in only 33 games this season, by far the fewest of his career, because of the injury and this subsequent absence.
Hedman thanked his teammates, the Lightning organization, his family and his therapist for their support and said he鈥檚 鈥渋n a much better place today.鈥�
鈥淭his is something that exists in our game more than people see,鈥� Hedman said. 鈥淚f this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves when they need to, that matters.鈥�
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