Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Victor Hedman broke his silence about his sudden absence from the team, which began in mid-March. "I've spent most of my life in this game, and nearly all of my career with this organization," Hedman, 35, said in a statement on Tuesday, May 5. "Wearing this jersey - and serving as captain - is the greatest responsibility of my professional life. That responsibility doesn't only apply on the ice. Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health." He added, "It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.