Oct 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) skates against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2. Victor Hedman
Throughout the last couple of seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning has seen their fair share of ups and has most certainly seen their fair share of downs, but one of the things that has always been a consistency for the Tampa Bay Lightning has been the play of Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.
The twenty four year old Swedish defenseman is one of those chosen few defensemen in the National Hockey League who are just as dangerous offensively as they are defensively. Victor Hedman has played 21 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning so far this season. In that amount of time, Hedman has scored one goal and eleven assists for a total of twelve points.
Hedman’s numbers put him in first place among Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen in points and third overall on the team. When you have a defenseman bringing home more points than some of your most skilled forwards, you know you have found a playmaker you want to hold onto for many years to come.
It comes as a shock to exactly no one that Hedman is just as solid on the blue line as he is in front of the net. Hedman is currently in third place on the team in terms of blocked shots with 28. This places him one shot behind defenseman Matt Carle. Leading the way for the Lightning in Blocked Shots on defenseman Jason Garrison with a whopping 37. Hedman has also been credited with 9 hits so far this season.
Another positive thing Victor Hedman has on his side, in addition to his rather tall stature, is his speed. With his long legs combined with the strength contained within, Hedman can take off like a shot and make it to the other end of the ice in no time at all.
One of the biggest contributions Hedman makes to a young Tampa Bay Lightning team is veteran experience. While he may not have been in the National Hockey League as someone like former Lightning forward Brenden Morrow or former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk, Hedman has been to the big game and knows what it takes to compete on the highest level in the league.
Whether Victor Hedman’s contributions are on the scoresheet or buried at the blue line in a monster hit on one of the Lightning’s opponents, if there is any defenseman we would look to in a bind, that player would be Victor Hedman.
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