Lightning D-Man Hedman Not Joining Team Right Away

It’s not injury-related or huge news that Tampa Bay Lightning fans should be worried about, but defenceman Victor Hedman will not fly to Toronto with the team on Sunday. Reports coming out of Tampa Bay are that Hedman first needs to attend to a personal matter.

GM Julien BriseBois told reporters on Sunday that Hedman is on the Lightning’s Return to Play to play roster and should be with the team for their first round-robin game against the Washington Capitals on August 3.

Hedman will stay back with team strength coach Mark Lambert and both will join the team in the Toronto hub on Friday.

Julien BriseBois said Victor Hedman will not be on the flight to TOR tonight to "attend to a personal matter." He will stay back with the director of sports performance, continue testing and skating at Amalie Arena. They will fly to meet the team in TOR Friday.

— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) July 26, 2020

That said, the Lightning won’t have Hedman, nor Steven Stamkos in the lineup for their first exhibition game against the Florida Panthers on July 29.

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