The 33-year-old defenseman is second in games played (1,052) in Lightning history, 30 fewer than center Steven Stamkos, who signed a four-year contract with the Nashville Predators on Monday. Hedman ranks third in assists (572) among all Tampa Bay skaters and first among Lightning defensemen in goals (156), assists and points (728). The second closest defenseman in points in Lightning history is Mikhail Sergachev (257), who was traded to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.
“Obviously, losing a guy that’s been my best friend for the past 15 years … seeing ‘Stammer’ go was not something that anyone expected, and the same goes for me,” Hedman said Tuesday. “Me and Stammer have had a lot of conversations throughout the past few weeks; obviously, what’s been said is going to stay between us. But it’s a sad, sad day, not just for me but for the fans, the organization, and the city of Tampa.
“It’s going to be hard going into our locker room and Amalie Arena not seeing him on the ice. It’s going to be super weird.”
Hedman has won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning (2020, 2021) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2020, when he had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and was plus-12. In 165 postseason games, Hedman has 117 points (23 goals, 94 assists).
Selected by Tampa Bay with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, Hedman has played all 15 of his NHL seasons with the Lightning. He is a five-time Norris Trophy finalist as the best defenseman in the NHL, winning the award in 2017-18.
“For me, I don’t know anything else and I don’t want to know anything else," Hedman said. "Tampa has become home for us; me and my wife and our two boys were born in Tampa. Obviously, the roots here go a long way. It’s been my home for half my life. I will be super proud and excited to hopefully retire as a Bolt, but first and foremost I’m excited about the opportunity to try and win another Cup.
"We’re super fortunate to be in a situation where we still have a really good team. I’m going to do whatever I can do to be as good as I can every single night to bring another Cup to Tampa.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Corey Long contributed to this report
