On Wednesday (Sept. 18) morning, the Tampa Bay Lightning named Victor Hedman their eleventh captain in franchise historical past. After dropping long-time captain Steven Stamkos in free company, as the edges couldn’t come to a brand new settlement and he selected to signal with the Nashville Predators, it gave the impression to be a matter of time earlier than Hedman earned the privilege of carrying the “C” transferring ahead.
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The 33-year-old Hedman has spent his complete profession with the Lightning, having performed 1,052 video games, scoring 156 targets, and including 572 assists for 728 factors. As he ages, he continues to be a frontrunner on and off the ice and has been rewarded for his longevity and dedication to the franchise.
Hedman has had loads of success all through his enjoying profession, successful the Norris Trophy for finest defenceman in 2018 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2020. He’s additionally a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a four-time NHL All-Star. He has additionally had success representing his house nation of Sweden, successful a bronze medal in 2007 on the IIHF U18 World Championship, two silver medals in 2008 and 2009 on the IIHF World Junior Championship, and a gold medal in 2017 on the IIHF World Championship.
Because the Lightning have continued to remain in competition for a Stanley Cup each season, Hedman has been an enormous a part of their success. It can absolutely be a change of tempo with some new personnel this season, however their new management group ought to be capable to get them over the hump and provides them a powerful likelihood of creating a deep playoff run on this marketing campaign.
Hedman and the Lightning get their season underway on Oct. 11 in a sport in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning’s first pre-season sport is on Tuesday (Sept. 24) after they face the Hurricanes.
