Hedman's Presence Boosts Lightning's Playoff Run

0:00It's April 25th. This is NHL News today, your AI-powered team coverage. Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman flew to Montreal for their road games against the Canadians, even though he's not suiting up anytime soon. The big defenseman has been played since March 19th, due to an elbow injury and coach John Cooper says the odds of him hitting the ice in this. First round series are super slim. Still, the team wanted him there for the energy he brings off the bench. Fans had a rough season, missing 49 games total, with two injury stints, including surgery back on December 15th. He came back February 1st, suited up for Sweden at the Olympics, then stepped away for personal reasons last month. Earlier this week, he even skated with the squad, but game 3 on Saturday and game 4 Monday? Nah, not happening. Team mates are straight up thrilled to have him around. Guys like Eric Cernack called it amazing, pointing out Hedman's their leader and captain through thick and thin. Coach Cooper put it plain.

1:00He's respected, lights up the room, drops wisdom on the young defenseman, and everyone wants that vibe more than anything. This ain't new for Tampa. They pulled the same move with Steven Stamco's in the 2020 bubble. Stamco's missed most of the playoffs after core muscle surgery, but stuck with the team, then dropped the goal in game 3 of the Stanley Cup final on. Just five shifts, that presence fueled their run, and Cooper sees the same potential here. Hedman in the mix feels like a smart play for a lightning crew chasing another deep run. Even if he sits this series out, his leadership could spark something big down the line, especially if they push forward. Keep an eye on how he lifts the locker room.