Victor Hedman

Victor Hedman
Hedman with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2014
Born December 18, 1990
Örnsköldsvik, SWE
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 232 lb (105 kg; 16 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Tampa Bay Lightning
Modo Hockey
Barys Astana
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 2nd overall, 2009
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2007present

Victor Erik Olof Hedman (born December 18, 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hedman was drafted second overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Hedman with Modo Hockey in 2008.
Hedman in September 2011.

Sweden

Hedman began his junior hockey career in the Swedish J20 SuperElit with the Modo Hockey organization. He recorded 25 points in 34 games during his first full season in the league in 200607. Hedman then turned pro and joined the Elitserien with Modo at the age of 16. At the beginning of the 200809 season, he was ranked first overall among all draft-eligible skaters in the International Scouting Services' preliminary rankings.[1] In the same season, he was nominated as the SHL Rookie of the Year . Following his performance at the 2009 World Junior Championships, Hedman was listed atop the rankings of European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Despite the unlikelihood of Hedman playing in Russia, he was drafted 83rd overall by the Kontinental Hockey League's Spartak Moscow on June 1, 2009.[2] Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was listed as the number two ranked player and top European player. This led to him being selected second overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.[3][4]

Tampa Bay Lightning

He made his National Hockey League debut for the Lightning on October 3, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers. He registered his first point as an assist on a Martin St. Louis goal. His first NHL goal was scored on December 5, 2009, against Dwayne Roloson of the New York Islanders. On January 5, 2011, Hedman checked Sidney Crosby from behind and received a minor boarding penalty. The hit was one of two that were blamed for causing a severe concussion on Crosby that kept him out of play for over a year.[5][6] On November 29, 2011, Hedman signed a 5-year, $20 million contract extension. On September 25, 2012, it was announced that Hedman signed a contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the remainder of the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

Hedman has drawn comparisons to Chris Pronger, who has a similar physique and was also drafted second overall.[7]

International play

Medal record
Competitor for  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze 2010 Germany
World Junior Championships
Silver 2009 Ottawa
Silver 2008 Pardubice
World U18 Championships
Bronze 2007 Tampere
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold 2007 Hodonín

Hedman played for Sweden at the 2008 World Junior Championships, where he helped the team to a silver medal, losing to Team Canada 3–2 in the final, and was selected to the tournament All-Star Team. He later became one of the youngest players to play for Sweden's national men's team when he made his debut at age seventeen in an exhibition game against Norway.[8] Hedman would once again play for Sweden's national junior team at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, where he met Canada for the second consecutive year in the gold medal game, earning another silver medal in a 5–1 loss.

Personal

He has two older brothers: Oscar is also a hockey player and plays for Modo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League, as well as Johan Hedman, but he does not play at professional level.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2005–06 Modo Hockey J20 100118
2006–07 Modo Hockey J20 3413122530 511244
2007–08 Modo Hockey J20 621326 32024
2007–08 Modo Hockey SHL 3922444 51014
2008–09 Modo Hockey J20 202210 50112
2008–09 Modo Hockey SHL 437142152
2009–10 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 744162079
2010–11 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 793232670 180668
2011–12 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 615182365
2012–13 Barys Astana KHL 261202170
2012–13 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 444162031
2013–14 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 7513425553 41232
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5910283840
NHL totals 39239143182338 2218910
SHL totals 829162596 51014

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2007 Sweden WJC18 3rd 612310
2008 Sweden WJC18 4th 413410
2008 Sweden WJC 2nd 60114
2009 Sweden WJC 2nd 60226
2010 Sweden WC 3rd 91126
2012 Sweden WC 5th 801114
Junior totals 22281030
Senior totals 1712320

Awards

Sweden

Award Year(s) awarded
Sweden's Junior of the Year 2009
Elitserien Rookie of the Year 2009

International

Award Year(s) awarded
World U18 All-Star Team 2007, 2008
World Junior All-Star Team 2008[9]

References

  1. "International Scouting Services Preliminary Rankings". TSN. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  2. "Tavares passed over in KHL draft, Hall taken by Ak Bars". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  3. "2014 NHL Mock Draft". My NHL Draft. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009.
  4. "Tavares, Hedman highlight NHL mid-season rankings". TSN. January 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  5. Vince Massi (September 7, 2011). "Crosby Show has been must-see TV". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  6. Greg Wyshynski (January 6, 2012). "The Sidney Crosby concussion vs. the economics of the NHL". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  7. Allen, Kevin (June 25, 2009). "Intriguing choice at No. 1 pick: Big-time scorer or franchise D". USA Today. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  8. Ek, Mattias (March 28, 2008). "Debut i Tre Kronor - som 17-åring" [Debut in Three Crowns - 17 years old] (in Swedish). Expressen. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  9. "Hockey Awards & Achievements". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on September 1, 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victor Hedman.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Steven Stamkos
Tampa Bay Lightning first round draft pick
2009
Succeeded by
Carter Ashton