Tampa Bay Lightning D Victor Hedman doubtful to return in regular season

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is more than likely to remain sidelined with an Upper-Body Injury for the remainder of the regular season.

Tampa Bay Lightning fans received a lot of updates from the team this morning. Unfortunately, some of these updates were not exactly the news the Bolts Nation wanted to hear.

Lightning fans were relieved to hear defenseman Victor Hedman was listed as day-to-day with an Upper-Body Injury. After seeing the hit to the head Hedman took against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, the situation could definitely have turned out much worse.

Regrettably, the relief was short-lived when the Lightning elaborated on the situation a little. According to Lightning Hockey Reporter Caley Chelios, Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper stated it was doubtful to play the remainder of the regular season.

Coach Cooper’s next comment didn’t help end the speculation as to the nature or severity of Hedman’s injury. Cooper went on to say “That’s all I can elaborate on that.” Coming from the perspective of a Head Coach, we can see why Cooper wouldn’t want to show his hand quite so quickly. At the same time, coming from a fan’s perspective, we’re dying over here.

The good news here is it seems the injury to Victor Hedman is not as bad as it could have been. Coach Cooper responded positively when asked if Hedman would be ready to go when the postseason kicked off. We knew there had to be a positive in there somewhere.

The incident where this all began happened in the first period of Saturday’s night’s 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. Hedman made a hit on Capitals forward Carl Hagelin against the boards. Hagelin seemed to jump into Hedman’s hit with a bit of force, causing Hagelin’s helmet to collide with Hedman’s face.

It was quickly apparent something wasn’t entirely right. Hedman quietly disappeared from the Lightning’s bench. It wasn’t until the third period when it was announced Hedman had sustained an Upper-Body Injury and would not be returning to the game.

Victor Hedman is arguably the best defenseman on the Lightning’s roster right now. The defending Norris Trophy winner is currently in fourth place on the team in points, having picked up 12 goals and 42 assists for a total of 54 points in the 70 games he played this season.

It’s very rare you find a defenseman as good as Hedman at playing both sides of the puck. Hedman is the kind of defenseman a team wants to not only get their hands on but hold on to long-term. Thankfully, the Lightning made the call to lock Hedman up long-term signing him to an eight-year contract which will see him in Lightning blue until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning is in a position right now where they can afford to give their players with nagging or recently received injuries to sit back and properly recuperate before the postseason begins. Hopefully, by the time the puck drops to start the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, players like Victor Hedman will be back to 100 percent and ready to leave it all out on the ice.