PuckSleuth
77Tampa Bay Lightning · Defense · Shoots L
Victor Hedman
Age 35 · 6'7" · 229 lb · Born in Ornskoldsvik, SWE
Cap hit
$8M
7.7% of $104M cap
Term
3 yrs
Through 2028-29, then UFA
Clause
NMC
Surplus value
+$1.044M
vs. $9.044M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
17:45
PP 1:55 · PK 1:13
xGF%
30.8
5v5, -17.7 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.26
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 4 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ NYR · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17:45 | 1:55 | 1:13 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.26 |
| Mar 19 @ VAN · W 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:44 | 0:00 | 0:39 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.05 |
| Mar 17 @ SEA · W 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17:14 | 1:42 | 2:36 | — | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -0.07 |
| Mar 14 vs CAR · L 4-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 18:27 | 1:42 | 0:37 | — | 25 | 3 | 0 | -1 | +0.21 |
| Mar 12 vs DET · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 18:54 | 0:13 | 0:38 | — | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.13 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 452 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
43rd percentile
9th percentile
64th percentile
70th percentile
43rd percentile
50th percentile
72nd percentile
81st percentile
47th percentile
87th percentile
14th percentile
86th percentile
86th percentile
61st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive playmaker
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Hedman controls play through exceptional passing and shot generation, leading the rush with confidence. His defensive impact has eroded significantly, making him vulnerable when opponents transition quickly.
- Shooting volume
- 91
- Playmaking
- 96
- Zone entries(est.)
- 70
- Forechecking
- 77
- Physicality
- 38
- Defensive impact
- 1
- Puck management
- 14
- Speed
- 58
Where he shoots from
Slot 3% · Mid-range 23% · Perimeter 74%(87 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 96th percentile playmaking creates chances from the blueline
- 91st percentile shooting volume keeps defenses honest
- 87th percentile unblocked shots, mostly long-range looks
Watch-outs
- 1st percentile defensive impact signals serious coverage issues
- 38th percentile physicality limits his engage ability in battles
- 14th percentile puck management creates turnovers under pressure
Similar style: Kris Letang (PIT), John Carlson (TBL)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 33 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.1 goals, or +0.03 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.3
- Even strength defense
- -0.5
- Power play
- -0.2
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Finishing
- -1.7
- Playmaking
- +2.4
- Penalties
- +0.4
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TBL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17:45 | — | -0.26 |
| 2025-26 | TBL | 33 | 1 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 50 | 18:52 | — | +0.03 |
| 2024-25 | TBL | 79 | 15 | 51 | 66 | +18 | 181 | 23:05 | — | +0.12 |
| 2023-24 | TBL | 78 | 13 | 63 | 76 | +18 | 168 | 24:48 | — | +0.14 |
| 2022-23 | TBL | 76 | 9 | 40 | 49 | +10 | 185 | 23:43 | — | +0.05 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Lightning captain Victor Hedman feels energized as he resumes his NHL career
Bay News 9 · Oct 2
- Lightning's Hedman returns to ice 'energized' after lost season
ESPN · Oct 2
- Victor Hedman’s New Physique IGNITES Hope for a Tampa Bay Lightning DEFENSIVE Revival
WHAS11 · Oct 1
- Lightning’s Victor Hedman returns to lineup, but in a lesser role
Tampa Bay Times · Oct 1
- Hedman 'energized' ahead of first game for Lightning since last March
NHL.com · Oct 1
- 5 Things Every Lightning Fan Should Know Before The 2026-27 Season
boltsbreakdown.substack.com · Sep 21
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.05 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.1 mph
- 69th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 15
- Hardest shot
- 101.4 mph
- 98th pct
- Distance
- 89.2 mi
- OZ time
- 43.6%
- 80th pct
- DZ time
- 38.1%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 35, defensemen typically produce 67% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 37, when the typical level is 59%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
3 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TBL | $8M | 7.7% |
| 2027-28 | TBL | $8M | 7.0% |
| 2028-29 | TBL | $8M | — |
UFA after 2028-29. NMC. $24M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).