Lightning Captain Hedman Out Until February After Surgery

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman will undergo elbow surgery on Monday, an injury that will sideline him until February. This procedure, however, is anticipated to clear him to play for Sweden in the upcoming Milan Olympics. Head coach Jon Cooper confirmed the prognosis, noting that while the injury is a step back for the team, it is timed such that it should not impact his Olympic readiness.

Hedman, a cornerstone defenseman for over a decade, averages significant ice time and was a crucial part of the Lightning's past championship successes. His absence is keenly felt, especially as the team is already contending with several other key players on the injured reserve list. Despite these challenges, the Lightning have managed to secure wins in 18 of their first 31 games this season.

Coach Cooper emphasized that the team's performance has been encouraging despite recent scoring struggles and a five-game stretch yielding only one win. He expressed satisfaction with the team's overall play and urged against frustration. Notably, the team scored eight goals in their game against the New Jersey Devils following these comments, indicating their resilience as they await Hedman's eventual return.