Victor Hedman return: 3 big changes, 1 tough 5-1 loss

The Victor Hedman return came Thursday, Oct. 1, when the Lightning captain played his first game since March 19 in a 5-1 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Hedman, 35, had been away from the team for more than six months.

Victor Hedman return follows a long absence

The Lightning announced March 27 that Hedman was on a temporary leave “for personal reasons,” according to NHL.com. He missed the final 15 regular-season games and all seven playoff games, and Tampa Bay lost its first-round series to Montreal.

Hedman later said he had dealt with “bouts of performance anxiety,” per NHL.com. He also said he felt confident and energized before the opener.

He played only 33 games last season after elbow surgery on Dec. 15 and missed 49 games in all, compared with 43 over the previous 10 seasons combined.

A lighter Hedman and a smaller role

Hedman reported to camp at 228 pounds, down from 244, and coach Jon Cooper said, “He was ripped.” Hedman said the change helped him feel faster on his skates.

His role is also changing. “Heddy used to play all situations all the time,” Cooper said, according to the Tampa Bay Times, adding the reduced minutes do not make him “less effective.” Tampa Bay signed defenseman John Carlson to a two-year, $17 million deal in free agency, per NHL.com.

What the opener showed

The Lightning started slowly against New York, and Nikita Kucherov scored their only goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 20 of 24 shots, according to Sports Illustrated. Read more in our Lightning vs. Rangers preview and the Rangers vs. Red Wings preview.

Hedman is in his 18th NHL season. The No. 2 pick in 2009 won the Norris Trophy in 2017-18 and two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay. The Lightning host Washington on Saturday in their home opener, so the next test of the Victor Hedman return comes quickly. See also the Rangers’ Korpisalo move.

Victor Hedman return sources: NHL.com, Tampa Bay Times and Sports Illustrated.