Victor Hedman Returns to Ice in Lightning Season Opener

Captain Victor Hedman recorded nearly 18 minutes of ice time during a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman returned to the lineup Thursday night, logging just under 18 minutes of ice time in a 5-1 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers. The Swedish defenseman saw his first game action since stepping away from the team in March to address his mental health. During his absence late last season, Tampa Bay posted an 8-6-2 record and was eliminated by Montreal in a seven-game first-round series despite outshooting the Canadiens 196-156.

Hedman entered his 18th NHL season at a weight of 228 pounds, which is 18 pounds lighter than his playing weight of 244 pounds during the previous campaign. The 35-year-old veteran, who missed time last year due to an elbow injury and surgery, was limited to 33 games last season. Head coach Jon Cooper noted that while Hedman previously played in all situations, the team is now managing his workload with increased roles for J.J. Moser, Charle-Edouard D'Astous, and free-agent signing John Carlson.

The former Norris Trophy winner and 2020 playoff MVP remains the only player on the roster who predates Cooper’s tenure. Teammate Ryan McDonagh noted the captain's return provided a morale boost to the locker room following a year where the Lightning fell short in the postseason.