Victor Hedman details mental health struggles that led to his leave

The smile has returned to Victor Hedman's face. After some dark days stuck in his own head, the Lightning captain can look toward the clean slate of next season with a fresh mind.

"I'm just looking forward to what's ahead," he said.

Make no mistake, Hedman would much rather the Lightning were still playing so he could potentially help the team on the ice.

But on Tuesday morning, the Lightning's season wrap-up interviews began with Hedman explaining his month-long leave of absence from the team while detailing his own mental health struggle.

"It's obviously a thing that's been going on for a long time, and trying to work through it and find ways to get around it," Hedman said. "I've always been able to do that. That's where the decision came that I needed to take some time and find myself again."

When Hedman pulled himself from a game March 19 in Vancouver during the first intermission after playing just six shifts, he called it the "last straw." So much had built up inside his head, he needed to remove himself from the team and the pressure he felt.

"It was a combination of a lot of things," Hedman said. "That's when I said, for my sake and the team's sake, it's better for me now to step away and focus on myself."

Hedman has spent his entire 17-year NHL career in a Lightning sweater. His No. 77 one day will hang from the rafters of Benchmark International Arena, and he'll eventually have an enshrinement day in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He's won the Norris and Conn Smythe trophies. He was awarded the captain's "C" two summers ago, but his commitment and dedication to his teammates, organization and community has been going on for years.

"You just try to be there to support him, because he's done that his whole life for us in different fashions and sacrificed so much for this team, this city, this organization," Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "Everybody that was on the team, in the room, with him this year was there for him and just wanted to be there and wishing that he was back as soon as possible."

Part of Hedman's recovery was getting away from the game. He said his therapist, who he's seen for four years, knows very little about hockey.

"She's learning, but that's kind of nice, too," Hedman said. "She's not focused on me as a hockey player. She's focused on me as a person. So that's been great, and she's been a tremendous help. She's one of the big reasons that I'm standing here today and feeling the way I feel. It's been great. ... I just didn't start therapy now. I've been doing it for a long time, because you kind of want to get ahead of the curve. It just helps to have someone to talk to."

Hedman's season was a struggle on the ice. He broke his foot during the playoff series against Florida last year, which affected the way he could prepare for this season. He suffered a hip injury in the preseason that limited him to one period of game time to prepare for the regular season. Then, 15 games into the season, he injured his elbow. He missed the next 12, hoping rest would be the solution. But after a three-game return, he realized he would need surgery, especially in order to play for his native Sweden in his first Winter Olympics.

"I only played 33 games," Hedman said. "It's not ideal, obviously, but at the end of the day it was just physically and mentally draining. But now I feel fresh, my body feels great. I'm ready to get back to work throughout the summer and be even more prepared next year."

Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois applauded Hedman, saying he was "very proud" of how the defenseman handled the situation. He said the way Hedman addressed his mental health battle publicly Tuesday and previously with the team in March was courageous.

"He put the team first, he put his family first, he put everyone else first and kind of came back, came in second," BriseBois said. "When I look at our players ... (you think), you guys are all winning. You're healthy, you're good-looking, you're strong, you've got the world by the balls, but in the world they live in is a world where - name your superstar - they're comparing themselves to those guys all the time, and it's a lot of pressure to live up to those expectations.

"I'm glad he's in a good spot, and I'm glad that he's gonna be on our team next year, and I expect him to have a good season."

Hedman has long been a mental-health awareness advocate. He is an ambassador for NOSOLO, an apparel brand that helps fund initiatives that improve mental health support and access around the world. He frequently wears a NOSOLO cap during interviews and did so again Tuesday.

"Just being around pretty much every day here recently, he seems like he's his old self again and feeling better about himself, and that's all we can ask for," McDonagh said. "So, he's obviously a huge piece to our team, and we missed him."

In January, fellow Swede Linus Ullmark, a former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender for the Ottawa Senators, said Hedman helped him through his mental health struggle, which included anxiety and panic attacks. Hedman said Tuesday that Ullmark helped him during his own battle, as did his best friend, former Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos.

Asked what advice he'd give others who might be going through mental health struggles, Hedman said, "Reach out for help. It's important."

"Obviously, this game has given me a lot in life, but at the end of the day there's gonna be a life after hockey, too," he said. "Just don't sit with your thoughts. You know there's a lot of people out there that can help you, and that's what I found out. And it's never too late, either. The mental part is just as important as the physical part. This game has given me everything, but it takes a toll on you as well. So don't sit around with your thoughts by yourself. Just reach out and get the help you need."

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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 8:18 AM.