TAMPA – Six days after the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Victor Hedman with the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, they signed 11-year veteran Mattias Ohlund.
The idea was to ask an experienced Swedish defenseman to help the 18-year-old Hedman adjust to life in the NHL and North America. As such, Ohlund’s impact went far beyond the two seasons and 139 games he played in Tampa Bay. uniform before knee injuries ended his career.
“The Lightnings did a wonderful job of bringing him here and helping me,” Hedman said. “It’s a shame that his knees (won’t hold) longer because he’s a phenomenal player and a wonderful role-playing style for me. He learned a lot. “
Hedman spoke about his fellow countryman Monday morning, several hours before he played his 1,000th career game. Every one of his games has been in a Lightning uniform, something that is of much significance to the 15-year vet, who turns 33 on December 18.
“It means a lot to have done it with the same team and the same organization, the ups and downs,” said the native of Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. “It goes to show that you have done something well and stayed in this league for a long time. To do it with the same team means the world for me.”
After all, he’s the team’s all-time leading scorer among defenders and fifth overall, he won a Norris Trophy (2017-18) as the league’s most no-nonsense defender, a Conn Smythe Trophy (2019-20). ) as playoff MVP and has his name engraved twice in the Stanley Cup.
“Being healthy enough to get to this point and evolve as a player and a person,” he said, when asked what he was most proud of. “Taking it step by step and believing in myself. There were ups and downs in the beginning, but I stuck with it and worked hard on my game to reach the level that I am today.”
Going step by step, Hedman becomes the 17th Swedish-born player to surpass the 1,000-cap mark, a list that tops Mats Sundin’s 1,564-cap list.
“It’s super special,” said Hedman, whose wife, two young children, parents (his father wrote a touching letter posted on the team’s website) and siblings were on hand for a pregame ritual Monday night. A city in Sweden would never have imagined this possible, however, I guess they are doing everything right in my hometown. I’m proud to join the (1,000-game) club.
Steven Stamkos has been with Hedman the entire way. The Lightning captain was the first-overall pick in 2008 and played in his 1,000th game last season.
“We’ve grown up together and we’ve been together almost part of our lives,” said Hedman, who joined Stamkos (1,030 and over) and Vincent Lecavalier (1,037) in playing 1,000 games with the Lightning. “We go from boys to men in combination with each other, what we’ve done for this team and what the team has done for us.
Hedman’s game point is such that he obviously still has a lot to accomplish. Statistically, his 531 assists (as of Dec. 7) are the third-most in club history and his 679 assists are fifth. Blocked shots? Well, longevity on the blue line comes with its fair share of bumps and bruises. His more than 1,500 blocked shots are more than double the total of the player (Mikhail Sergachev), a moment in franchise history.
Add it all up and it’s been an adventure for the number 77.
“What wonderful memories of each year and the friends I’ve made,” she said.