TAMPA -- Victor Hedman was named captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old defenseman replaces Steven Stamkos, who held the role from 2014-24 before he signed a four-year, $32 million contract ($8 million average annual value) with the Nashville Predators on July 1.
Hedman signed a four-year, $32 million contract ($8 million AAV) on July 2 that will keep him with the Lightning through the 2028-29 season.
"It means the world, obviously, for me to lead this team is a great honor," Hedman said. "It's a big privilege and a big responsibility, but I've learned from a lot of great leaders, [especially] my good friend ‘Stammer,’ who's been my captain for the last 10-11 years. I'm not going to change the way I am and the way I approach my game. There's a lot more responsibility wearing that 'C', but to do it for the team that I've played with for 15 years means the world to me."
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said that he and coach Jon Cooper decided to survey the players for input, and they chose Hedman unanimously.
Hedman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning (2020, 2021). He's first in team history among defensemen in games (1,052), points (728), power-play points (259), short-handed points (14), overtime goals (eight), game-winning goals (28), shots on goal (2,241), hits (1,132), blocked shots (1,613) and takeaways (529). He is one of three players (Vincent Lecavalier, Stamkos) and the first defenseman to play 1,000 games with Tampa Bay, reaching the milestone in a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars at Amalie Arena on Dec. 4, 2023.
He won the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2020, and was a finalist for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the best defenseman in the NHL, in six straight seasons from 2016-22, winning the award in 2017-18.
"Victor is an all-time great NHL player, if anything he's underrated," BriseBois said. "With six straight Norris Trophy nominations, he's in very rare air in the history of our League. He's got Norris, Conn Smythe, two Stanley Cups, four Cup Finals, a World Championship ... he's one of the best players of his generation and one of the best defensemen in the history of this game."
BriseBois added that Hedman is as much regarded for the person he is off the ice as for the player that he is on the ice.
"Victor is humble, thoughtful, he's extremely competitive, proud, ambitious, and he cares deeply about the success of this franchise, his teammates and the Tampa Bay community," BriseBois said. "He is the player that his teammates look to first to lead this team."
Hedman, who was selected by the Lightning with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, has been one of the cornerstones of Tampa BAy since he entered the League. Together, he and Stamkos were the faces of the team for 14 seasons, becoming best friends on and off the ice.
He says that following Stamkos as captain will not be easy, but he is proud to have the honor and hopes to have as much success in his new role.
"[Stamkos] is never going to go away, he'll always be known as one of the greats to play for this organization and in this game," Hedman said. "I learned so much from him in the way he acted and carried himself on and off the ice. I look at it as an honor to follow that."
Hedman said he made a speech in front of his teammates and that it "probably wasn't the best of speeches" but it was a humbling experience to know that his teammates selected him.
"It's a proud moment for me and my family," Hedman said. "I look forward to leading those guys and proving to everyone that I was the right choice and that I can lead them into this season and many more years to come."
Hedman credits former teammates Eric Brewer and Mattias Ohlund as mentors early in his career that taught him how to be a professional. He now captains a Lightning team that has made significant changes in the offseason, moving on from Stamkos and trading defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club for defenseman J.J. Moser and forward Conor Geekie.
"There's going to be a little bit of a change in the way it's going to look on the ice this year," Hedman said. "But we still have a lot of guys that have been here for a long time and had the success that we've had. I'm excited to bring new guys into that culture and what we stand for as a team and an organization."
Forward Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Ryan McDonagh will be alternates. McDonagh, who is returning to the Lightning after two years with the Predators, said Hedman is very deserving of the captaincy.
"Just an unbelievable human being," McDonagh said. "He's an incredible person, husband and father. I'm excited to see him continue to add to his already Hall-of-Fame legacy. Being captain is something I know he doesn't take lightly. He's earned the right to represent the organization and he's going to do a tremendous job."
There are four teams in the NHL without a captain: the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken and Utah Hockey Club. Earlier on Wednesday, the Chicago Blackhawks named Nick Foligno captain.
