Bold take: a core star’s absence puts serious pressure on a team that’s already fighting through injuries. Victor Hedman, the Lightning’s captain and cornerstone defenseman, has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next three games.
Hedman had just returned to action last weekend after nearly a month out with an injury. He exited Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens late in the first period and did not return, raising immediate concerns about whether the setback was more serious than first thought. Head coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the concern, saying there was “a little bit of concern” that the prior injury might have flared up again. He added, “It’s tough to lose the big guy. He is such an important part of our team, so fingers crossed here.”
Due to the IR designation, Hedman will not be eligible to play against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, the New York Islanders on Saturday, or the Florida Panthers on Monday. On the ice, he averages just over 21 minutes per game, ranking second on the team in ice time, and has been a franchise stalwart for more than a decade. He famously captured playoff MVP honors with the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2020, helping to anchor back-to-back championship runs.
To fill Hedman’s roster spot, the Lightning recalled defenseman Declan Carlile from Syracuse of the American Hockey League.
Hedman is not alone in his absence, as Tampa Bay also has multiple two-time Stanley Cup champions sidelined, including Andrei Vasilevskiy, Erik Cernak, and Ryan McDonagh, all on IR. Yet the Lightning still managed to win 17 of their first 30 games this season, demonstrating resilience amid a relentless cycle of injuries to top players.
