Hedman stepped away from Lightning because of mental health

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed he stepped away from the team to focus on his mental health, missing the final 15 regular-season games and the entire playoff run after leaving a game against Vancouver on March 19. The 35-year-old defenseman, who had 17 points in 33 games this season, announced his leave of absence for personal reasons on March 25. Speaking to media in Tampa on Tuesday, Hedman said he is 'in a much better place today' and emphasized that stepping away was the right decision for both himself and the team.