NHL Captain Victor Hedman Opens Up About Mental Health Break

Victor Hedman walked away from hockey at the peak of his career, and it might be the bravest thing he's ever done on or off the ice.

The Tampa Bay Lightning captain pulled himself from a game in Vancouver on March 19, playing just six shifts before stepping away. He called it his "last straw" after months of physical injuries and mounting pressure left him stuck in his own head.

"For my sake and the team's sake, it's better for me to step away and focus on myself," Hedman told reporters Tuesday. The smile had returned to his face as he spoke.

The Swedish defenseman has spent all 17 years of his NHL career with the Lightning. His jersey will one day hang in the rafters, and a Hockey Hall of Fame induction awaits. But those achievements couldn't protect him from the mental strain that forced him to choose himself first.

Hedman revealed he's been working with a therapist for four years, long before this crisis hit. "I've been doing it for a long time, because you kind of want to get ahead of the curve," he said. "It just helps to have someone to talk to."

His therapist knows almost nothing about hockey, and that's exactly the point. She focuses on Hedman the person, not the star athlete constantly compared to the world's best players.

Why This Inspires

Hedman's openness is changing hockey culture in real time. Teammate Ryan McDonagh said the captain has sacrificed so much for the team over the years, and now the team supported him without hesitation.

The impact reaches beyond Tampa Bay. Fellow Swedish player Linus Ullmark, a former Vezina Trophy winner, credited Hedman with helping him through anxiety and panic attacks. Now Ullmark helped Hedman in return.

General manager Julien BriseBois called Hedman's courage extraordinary. "He put the team first, he put his family first, he put everyone else first and kind of came back, came in second," BriseBois said.

Hedman is also an ambassador for NOSOLO, an apparel brand funding mental health initiatives worldwide. He wore their cap during his interview, walking the walk he's been talking about for years.

Physical injuries complicated Hedman's season. A broken foot, hip injury, and elbow surgery limited him to just 33 games. The mental and physical toll became too much to carry alone.

Now Hedman feels fresh and ready for next season. "My body feels great," he said. "I'm ready to get back to work throughout the summer."

His teammates say the old Victor is back, and that's all they wanted.