Hedman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2020, 2021), Conn Smythe Trophy winner voted as most valuable player, five-time Norris Trophy finalist and voted as best defenseman in the NHL in 2018. The 6-foot-6 defenseman from Sweden, has been everything the Tampa Bay Lightning could have asked for when they selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft and has been a cornerstone for the Lightning ever since. His 10 postseason goals in 2020 were the most by a defenseman since Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers scored 11 in 1994, and he averaged 26:20 of ice time, the most of any player who got as far as the second round of the playoffs.
Hedman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2020, 2021), Conn Smythe Trophy winner voted as most valuable player, five-time Norris Trophy finalist and voted as best defenseman in the NHL in 2018. The 6-foot-6 defenseman from Sweden, has been everything the Tampa Bay Lightning could have asked for when they selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft and has been a cornerstone for the Lightning ever since. His 10 postseason goals in 2020 were the most by a defenseman since Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers scored 11 in 1994, and he averaged 26:20 of ice time, the most of any player who got as far as the second round of the playoffs.
After earning Rookie of the Year honors in the Swedish Elite League as an 18-year-old, Hedman joined the Lightning for the 2009-10 season and had an assist in his first NHL game, a 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on Oct. 3. On Dec. 5, 2009, Hedman scored his first NHL goal in a 4-0 victory against the New York Islanders.
He honed his defensive game early and has since become a standout at both ends of the ice with his blend of size (6-foot-6, 229 pounds) and speed.
Hedman's play during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs helped Tampa Bay advance to the Final against Chicago. He would have been a prime candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy had the Lightning won the series.
He was named an NHL Second-Team All-Star in 2017, then won the Norris Trophy in 2018 after helping the Lightning win the Atlantic Division and finish first in the Eastern Conference. Despite missing 12 games with injury in 2018-19, Hedman was again named an NHL Second-Team All-Star. He was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the second time in 2020 and was again named a Second-Team All-Star.
Hedman hails from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, which has produced NHL stars Markus Naslund, Peter Forsberg, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. Many high-level players have spent time with Modo, the local club team where Hedman's father, Olle, served as an equipment manager. Hedman joined the senior-league team at 16 and in two seasons playing in the men's league scored nine goals and 25 points in 82 games.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- NHL Second All-Star Team (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- NHL First All-Star Team (2018)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2017, 2020, 2022)
- Signed as a free agent by Astana (KHL), September 25, 2012.
