Hedman Back With Lightning Tonight, Says He Feels 'Energized'
The Tampa Bay captain returns against the Rangers for the first time since March 19, after a leave of absence to prioritize his mental health.
Victor Hedman is set to play his first game for the Tampa Bay Lightning since March 19, and he says he arrives feeling lighter in mind and body.
Hedman will be in the lineup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET), the start of his 18th NHL season.
The 35-year-old defenceman left the team on March 20 on a leave of absence to prioritize his mental health. He missed the final 15 games of the regular season and all seven of the Lightning's playoff games. In August, he told NHL.com he had been dealing with bouts of performance anxiety that would lock him up and keep him from performing.
"It's always a little bit nervous before opening night and maybe a little bit more, but at the same time I'm confident and energy-wise I feel great," Hedman said. "It's going to be a lot of fun today."
Hedman also came back to Tampa in August 16 pounds lighter than when he left, down from 244 pounds to 228. He attributes that to changes in his training and diet, made so he could feel and play lighter.
"As you get older the less mass you have to move around the faster you feel," Hedman said. "That's kind of been the feeling for me throughout camp.
"Bottom line, I don't think I lost any power or strength in that regard. I'm still quite heavy for this League so boxing out and winning battles is not going to be any different."
The change caught coach Jon Cooper off guard at first.
"He was ripped," Cooper said. "Not that he wasn't before. It was just he definitely had a goal in mind, and he looked after himself."
