Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman returned to game action Thursday night for the first time since March, when he stepped away to address his mental health. The well-respected Swedish defenseman played just under 18 minutes in a 5-1 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York. "Last year was hopefully a blip on the radar," Hedman said. "Feeling excited and energized." Hedman, who turns 36 in November, shed significant weight this offseason, dropping from 244 pounds to 228 pounds. "As you get older, the less mass you have to move around, the faster you feel," he explained. Coach Jon Cooper immediately noticed the difference, describing Hedman as "ripped" and praising his ability to remain elite despite aging.
Hedman missed 33 games last season due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery. His return provides stability to Tampa Bay's blue line and a morale boost to the locker room. Teammate Ryan McDonagh noted, "Just to see him being himself, his outgoing self, his energetic self, it means a lot to this group." Hedman previously won the Norris Trophy in 2017-18 and helped lead the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021, earning playoff MVP honors in 2020.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing