Hedman has not played since March 19, when he left the ice after the first period of Tampa's game against Vancouver.
Now the 35-year-old is preparing for his 18th NHL season. He feels physically and mentally ready again.
“Feeling good”
"For me, it's just about feeling healthy and my body being where I want it to be," Hedman said in a phone interview with nhl.com.
I'm on the ice every day, I'm in the gym and I feel good, and when I feel like I can perform and do my job to the fullest, it also makes the mental part a lot easier. Since I haven't played in a long time, I'm sure it will take a few games for me to get back into the rhythm of the league, but I'm super fresh, hungry and very motivated to go out there and play my best hockey.
It was different last winter. The injury problems took their toll on him mentally.
“Performance anxiety”
It wasn't exactly about feeling down, it was about performance anxiety, feeling that pressure in my chest as soon as it was time for a match day. I was locked in. If I made a mistake that I could just shake off before, I couldn't do it now. And physically, I felt far from one hundred percent.
I have no doubts whatsoever now. I haven't played a game since March, but deep down I know what it takes to be good in the league.
