Hedman at your service as Tampa tour guide for All-Star Weekend

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman won't be playing in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Amalie Arena on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports) because of a lower-body injury sustained Jan. 11, and which will keep him out of the lineup for 3-6 weeks. He's disappointed, of course.
But the injury opened another role for the Norris Trophy candidate: Tampa tour guide.

Hedman is available to sell visitors on the wonders of Tampa, his adopted home. There are beaches and golf courses and restaurants. Oh, and an insane pirate festival this weekend for all the people-watching you could desire.
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Plus, as Hedman would remind you, the best hockey team in the National Hockey League.
But first, relaxation. Start at The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, a pink-hued hotel that's hard to miss. And, according to Hedman, not to be missed.
"You've got all the chairs lined up," he said. "You can eat right there on the beach. Perfect set-up. Usually live music too. So that's the really good spot, where I take all my family and friends when they get here."
It might be a little cool this time of year for the beach, so reserve that for the hardiest of souls, or for those from places like, say, Sweden.
"Obviously it's a little colder in the water, but you should still go out there and take in the scenery," Hedman said.
If it's too chilly to lay by the pool or sit on the beach, perhaps golf is more up your alley.
Hedman is a member at Avila Golf and Country Club, but mentioned TPC Tampa Bay, Saddlebrook Golf Club and Copperhead Golf Club, which he said has "the toughest ending three holes on the PGA Tour."

All that golf likely will make you work up an appetite, and Hedman has the antidote.
He likes some of the high-end chain restaurants Tampa has to offer, like Eddie V's and Ocean Prime, both of which are located not far from Tampa's International Plaza, which is his pick for a shopping destination. But if you're looking for a Tampa specialty, he recommends Mise en Place for dinner and Oxford Exchange for lunch.
"I'm a big fan of Oxford Exchange," he said. "That's my go-to place. The chicken sandwich is delicious, or the chicken burger it's called. A little spice to it. Very good."
It comes with avocado, jalapeno, tomato, feta and cumin aioli, if you're interested. And you should be, according to Hedman.
But don't let all that eating and drinking and golfing and sitting by the beach keep you away from Gasparilla, the aforementioned pirate festival.
It takes over the city, with many roads being closed, leading to Tampa becoming one big party.

Hedman said that when he lived in Hyde Park, about 5-10 minutes from Amalie Arena, it would take him nearly an hour to get to the rink during Gasparilla.
So be prepared.
"That's just how it is," he said. "But it's a great, great event. It's a quarter of a million people on Bayshore, obviously a big happening for our town. So we get a first-hand look this weekend, and don't be surprised, it's going to be a lot of pirates cruising around Tampa."
He suggests going for a walk -- no cars! -- around the area to scope out the craziness, as well as checking out the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, which happens between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, starting at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard.
"Everyone goes all-in, dressing like pirates, the invasion with the big pirate ships," he said. "There are so many boats on the water it's unbelievable. That's a big tradition, since 1904 I believe. It keeps getting bigger and bigger. Their own Mardi Gras, with everything. It's a pretty cool event."
Especially with this year's grand marshal, former Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier.
"This year with Vinny as grand marshal, too, it's going to be fun," Hedman said.

An NHL All-Star Game, a pirate festival and all the usual perks of a fun Florida city should make for a great weekend. Not that it's confined to this weekend. Hedman said that since he arrived in Tampa after the Lightning selected him No. 2 in the 2009 NHL Draft, he can't believe how many of his countrymen he sees around town, even more so with all the projects Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has engaged in to improve the community. His parents are calling constantly to let him know that someone is there for a visit, he said.
"I never knew that Swedes would come to Tampa, but since I got here it's just Swedes everywhere," he said. He understands that, especially in January and February.
"If you like a lot of snow and cold, Sweden is beautiful this time of year," he said. "But if you want some sun and to work on your tan, I would say Tampa is a pretty good destination."