Victor Hedman Takes Temporary Leave from Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman is taking a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons, the team announced Wednesday, March 25, 2026. No further details regarding the leave were disclosed, and the Lightning have requested that Hedman’s privacy be respected according to TSN.
Recent Absence and Injury History
Hedman, 35, last played on March 19, 2026, in a 6-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks, exiting the game after only 4:44 of ice time due to an illness as reported by Sportsnet. He has missed the Lightning’s past three games. This season has been hampered by injuries for the veteran defenseman, limiting him to 33 games played.
Prior to his recent illness, Hedman underwent elbow surgery in December, causing him to miss 22 games. He also missed 12 games earlier in the season with an undisclosed injury as noted by TSN. He briefly represented Sweden at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, but sustained a lower-body injury during warmups before Team USA’s quarterfinal match.
Hedman’s Performance and Career Highlights
In 33 games this season, Hedman has recorded one goal and 17 points. The 6-foot-7 defenseman is averaging 18:52 of ice time per game. Throughout his NHL career, all spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hedman has amassed 172 goals and 639 assists for a total of 811 points in 1,164 games according to NHL.com.
Hedman’s accolades include winning the Norris Trophy in 2018 as the league’s top defenseman, and he played a pivotal role in the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2020.
Lightning’s Current Standing
The Tampa Bay Lightning (44-21-5) currently hold second place in the Atlantic Division, trailing the Buffalo Sabres by two points with one game in hand as reported by NHL.com. They are scheduled to host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, March 26, 2026.