In March, Victor Hedman, the captain of the Tampa Bay team, took a break from hockey to focus on his mental health.
"It had been building up for a long time and finally I had to make the decision to take a step back and find myself again," Hedman said at a press conference.
Hedman was assistant captain for Tre Kronor during the Milan Olympics and said that he had spoken a lot with Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark, who had taken a break due to mental illness. Now Hedman says that Ullmark was one of those who stood up for him.
"I have received great support from many people, including Linus. We have known each other for a long time and live in the same city (Örnsköldsvik) in the summer," Hedman said, adding he is feeling much better and is ready for next season.
