Victor Hedman’s decision to walk away from the Tampa Bay Lightning late in the 2025-26 season has received a clearer explanation during the NHL offseason. The veteran defenseman recently spoke publicly about the physical issues and performance anxiety that kept him out, including Tampa Bay’s first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series versus the Montreal Canadiens. His remarks also brought up the issue of mental health in pro hockey.Victor Hedman is leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning, saying he needs to focus on his mental and physical health following a difficult stretch. The captain last played March 19, 2026, when he departed a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks after one period. Six days later, Tampa Bay announced he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
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Why did Victor Hedman leave Tampa Bay Lightning?
“For me, it was not really feeling low, but it was performance anxiety, kind of feeling that pressure in your chest as soon as a game day would hit,” Hedman said. “It kind of locks you up. You make a mistake and in the past you’d be able to shake it off, but I couldn’t do that. And I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent physically.The news came after a season in which the 35-year-old defenseman was plagued by injuries. Hedman missed a lot of time with an elbow injury that required surgery, and then got hurt during warmups with Team Sweden before the 2026 Winter Olympics quarterfinal against the United States. He returned to Tampa Bay after the Olympic break, but he only played in 12 games before his last one of the season.
Why did Hedman believe stepping away helped Tampa Bay?
Hedman ultimately felt the decision to step away was the right one for him and the TampaBay Lightning. He felt he was not playing like himself and not making the contribution expected of a long-time captain.The ruling forced Hedman to miss the final 15 games of the regular season and all seven games of Tampa Bay’s first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning fell in Game 7 by a score of 2-1 on May 3. Hedman skated through the playoffs and mentioned he could have come back if Tampa Bay had advanced.Hedman, who is in his 18th NHL season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, said he feels better physically and mentally. He said it will take him a little while to get back into the rhythm of the game after not playing since March. But he has called himself motivated and confident for the upcoming season.His openness is a huge mental-health message to the N.H.L., too. Hedman has talked about the support he’s had from his therapist, teammates, family and others in the league. He hopes sharing his experience publicly will inspire others who are struggling to seek help, instead of going it alone.
