Victor Hedman says his toughest move this season happened off the ice. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain disclosed Tuesday that he missed the team's final 15 regular-season games and entire first-round playoff series to address his mental health, calling the decision difficult but necessary, reports the Athletic. Hedman, 35, last played March 19 before taking a leave of absence; he practiced during the series against the Montreal Canadiens but didn't suit up before Tampa Bay was knocked out in Game 7. From his statement, per NHL.com:
- "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. 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."
In the statement, Hedman said wearing the "C" is the biggest responsibility of his career. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Norris and Conn Smythe winner had an injury-plagued season, including elbow surgery and a lower-body issue at the Milan Olympics, and appeared in just 33 games. Hedman said he's now in a "much better place" and hopes his openness encourages others in hockey to seek help when needed. "This is something that exists in our game, more than people see," he said.
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