Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman, 35, steps away from team duties to focus on his mental health, multiple outlets report. Hedman misses the Lightning’s final 15 regular-season games and does not participate in the Stanley Cup playoffs. One report notes that he is absent from the team’s first-round matchup, including not dressing for games in the series.
According to accounts from outlets citing team and reporting timelines, Hedman’s last game appearance is March 19. During the Lightning’s first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, he does not dress for at least one game, with the series described as ending 4-3.
Hedman is described as publicly addressing the reason for his absence, saying he chose the step to prioritize his mental well-being and characterizing it as the right decision. The coverage aligns on the central points: he takes time away, misses late-season and early-playoff action, and attributes his absence to mental health considerations rather than injury.
