- Jon Cooper calls Victor Hedman "doubtful" to return in Round 1 vs. Canadiens
- Captain skated Tuesday morning but hasn’t played since March 19
- Read below for more on Tampa Bay’s Game 2 blueline shakeup
Victor Hedman probably isn’t walking through that door.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Tuesday that his captain is "doubtful" to return during Tampa Bay’s Eastern Conference First Round series against the Montreal Canadiens, per NHL.com.
"I wouldn’t rule anything out," Cooper said, "but I’d say I’d put that on the doubtful side for this series."
Hedman took part in Tampa Bay’s optional morning skate ahead of Game 2 at Benchmark International Arena, the second straight day he’s been on the ice with coaches. Cooper said he could come back "at some point," just not right now.
The 35-year-old hasn’t played since leaving a 6-2 win over the Canucks on March 19 in the first period with an illness. On March 25, the team announced he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. He missed Tampa’s final 15 games of the regular season and is now a long shot to suit up before the second round, if the Lightning even get there.
Things aren’t getting easier on the back end.
Defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous is also out of Game 2 after getting hurt in a second-period collision with Canadiens forward Josh Anderson in Game 1. Declan Carlile draws in to make his NHL playoff debut after bouncing between the NHL and AHL this season.
Tampa Bay trails 1-0 in the best-of-seven after Juraj Slafkovsky’s overtime hat trick gave Montreal a Game 1 win on Sunday.
Hedman has carried the Lightning blueline for the better part of 17 years. He played just 33 games this season, putting up 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in a year broken up by an early-season absence, December elbow surgery, and now the leave.
His playoff résumé is enormous. The 2009 second overall pick has 120 points in 170 playoff games and lifted the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, taking home the Conn Smythe in 2020 along the way. His 172 goals, 639 assists, and 811 points are all franchise records for a Lightning defenseman.
Tampa Bay is looking to win a playoff round for the first time in four years. Doing it without the captain is going to be a tall order.
