Defensemen often take longer to mature into their position. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman is a prime example of this adage. After being taken second overall in the 2009 NHL Draft, it took five years for Hedman to emerge as one of the league’s best. A breakout 2013-14 season led to career highs in scoring and Norris Trophy votes. After a four point night in Monday’s 7-1 rout of the Montreal Canadiens Victor’s game is being praised by people in high places. For a while he was the best blueliner that no one was talking about. That’s about to change. (Photos/Susan Ferlita)
Hedman deserves a lot of credit for working hard to improve his craft. In the summer of 2013 he watched how some of the best at his position played the game. Instead of focusing on a hard hitting approach, he keyed in on players like Erik Karlsson and Scott Niedermayer. One of the most noticeable influences is longtime Detroit Red Wing stalwart Nicklas Lidstrom. It wasn’t just about big guys that used their reach to their advantage.
He expressed this to the National Post earlier this year:
“I look at those guys too, but the way I play the game — I’m not [Zdeno] Chara. I don’t think I’m playing the way Pronger played the game. I’m not mean. I need to get some of that into my game, obviously, but I’m a mobile defenseman who can skate the puck. You want to have a lot of parts to your game.”
“It doesn’t really matter the size, really. I don’t think I play that game — for a big guy, I’m not as physical as I could be. I think my mobility is what I want to do, I think that’s part of the strength in my game. “
It’s been a slow ascent for Hedman, but he broke out in a big way last year. He finished the season fourth in scoring among defensemen with 55 points. He set career highs in goals (13}, assists (42), points (55), plus-minus (+5), shots (170), power-play goals (3) and game-winning goals (2). Not a bad resume for a player that had been much maligned by some fans for not living up to expectations after being drafted.
Moving into the future, Victor is set up for more success in Tampa Bay. Jon Cooper’s system allows blueliners to join the rush and the head coach has encouraged Victor to be offensively minded. This focus has definitely paid off through the beginning of the 2014-15 season. Through four games he has three goals and four assists. He is tied for the scoring lead with guys like forwards Rick Nash, Wayne Simmonds and John Tavares. That’s unlikely to hold as more games are played, but it’s pretty amazing.
Hedman opened the scoring in the victory against Montreal earlier this week. What may be more impressive is that he earned assists on Steven Stamkos’ hat trick later that game. As his numbers have increased, so have his teammates’. People are noticing and penciling him in as a projected finalist for the Norris trophy. When examining the evolution of Victor Hedman one of the scariest things is that he’s still only 23 years old. The best is yet to come for the young blueliner and the Lightning are sure to reap the benefits.
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