Hedman spoke openly and honestly with reporters today as he spoke about his prolonged absence from the Lightning lineup, telling the assembled media that he's been seeing a therapist for years.
"It just helps to have someone to talk to. My therapist has no clue what hockey is. She's learning, but that's kind of nice, too," Hedman told reporters about his therapy sessions. "She's not focused on me as a hockey player, she's focused on me as a person. That's been great, and she's been a tremendous help. She's one of the big reasons that I'm standing here today and feeling the way I feel."
Seeking treatment for mental health issues is nothing new for hockey players, but being as open and honest about those struggles is a vast difference compared to the various ways that some dealt with their deteriorating mental health in the past. Coaches, fans, and media would question a player's "mental toughness" if one were to show ay sort of weakness, and players often remained silent and treated their struggles with mental health through dependencies that affected them and their loved ones. In short, mental health issues have always been present for elite-level hockey players, but, thankfully, things are changing since those days of yesteryear for those needing help.
A 2025 study titled Elite Ice Hockey Players’ Well-Being: A Scoping Review published in the National Library of Medicine written by Pierre-Luc Veillette, Stéphanie Girard, Jason D'Amours, Vincent Huard Pelletier, and Paule Miquelon looked at "the psychological factors contributing to elite ice hockey players' well-being". The study was based on published works that focused on "anxiety and depressive symptoms, motivational variables, and coping strategies at different career stages" of the hockey players described in those articles.
The findings by the authors showed that there are many factors that lead to elite male hockey players struggling with mental health. The study did identify that it was a poor representation of women's hockey as there weren't many articles which they could study, but everything from concussions and their long-term effects to lack of routine for retired players to negative experiences with coaches and parents led to negative thoughts and behaviours in hockey players.
Hedman, in his comments today, indicated that fellow players may be changing how mental health situations are viewed within the league.
"In the beginning it was more with my therapist. Guys were reaching out, and I really didn't have the energy to reach back at that point," Hedman said. "But it was a tremendous amount of support, not just from my teammates, but around the league as well. Tremendous support, and now we're just looking forward to what's ahead."
This aligns with the study above that noted that "athletes who seek social support during injuries tend to cope better during their rehabilitation process. Thus, strong support networks — including teammates, coaches, and family — are instrumental in fostering effective coping strategies". Hedman indicated that the support from teammates and players around the league helped him escape the darkness, and that's a great sign for how hockey may be changing for the better. No longer are players told to "tough it out". Instead, there's compassion and empathy when a player is asking for help.
"The mental part is just as important, if not more important, than the physical part," Hedman stated matter-of-factly about his time away from the Lightning. "This game has given me everything, but it takes a toll on you as well. So just don't sit around with your thoughts by yourself. Just reach out and get the help you need."
There are a pile of great resources for people who may not know where to turn as well. The Canadian Mental Health Association can be reached 24/7 by dialing or texting 9-8-8, there are many provincial resources that can help, the Kids Help Phone has info and resources for younger people seeking help, HeadsUpGuys has mental health resources specifically for men, Indigenous Peoples can get 24/7 help through Hope For Wellness, and the Women's Health Clinic offers assistance to women, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people. All of these organizations are incredible and I am grateful they are helping those who ask for help.
I urge anyone who is struggling with any sort of mental health issue - anxiety, depression, overwhelming emotions, or suicidal thoughts - to use the resources above to find some light. As Victor Hedman said, he began his journey with a therapist, but not everyone has the means to be able to get that kind of help. Using the free resources above is a good start in navigating any and all mental health issues one may be experiencing. You don't have to be an NHL player to do that.
Perhaps Victor Hedman said it best near the end of his press conference when he stated, "There's a lot of people out there that can help you, and that's what I found out. It's never too late either."
Full credit to Victor Hedman for being a leader by speaking out about his struggles today. If he can help one person get the help he or she needs with his message, he's done a good thing. And if NHL players are coming to one another's aid when they're struggling, there still is decency and good in a business that often shows little of either trait.
Knowing that NHL players are lifelong teammates who may play on different teams is one thing, but seeing those friendships come before logos or contracts when a player is asking restores a little faith in the game for me. In saying that, if you need help, don't suffer quietly. Be like Victor Hedman and ask for help. As he said, "There's a lot of people out there that can help you" and "It's never too late".
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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