Playing Career
Hedman began his junior hockey career in the Swedish J20 SuperElit with the Modo Hockey organization. He recorded 25 points in 34 games during his first full season in the league in 2006–07. Hedman then turned pro and joined the Elitserien with Modo at the age of 16. At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, he was ranked first overall among all draft-eligible skaters in the International Scouting Services' preliminary rankings. In the same season, he was nominated as the Elitserien Rookie of the Year 2008–09. Following his performance at the 2009 World Junior Championships, Hedman was listed atop the rankings of European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Despite the unlikelihood of Hedman playing in Russia, he was drafted 83rd overall by the Kontinental Hockey League's Spartak Moscow on 1 June 2009. Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was listed as the number two ranked player and top European player. This led to him being selected second overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He made his National Hockey League debut for the Lightning on 3 October 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers. He registered his first point as an assist on a Martin St. Louis goal. His first NHL goal was scored on 5 December 2009, against Dwayne Roloson of the New York Islanders. On 5 January 2011, Hedman checked Sidney Crosby from behind and received a minor boarding penalty. The hit was one of two that were blamed for causing a severe concussion on Crosby that kept him out of play for over a year. On 29 November 2011, Hedman signed a 5-year, $20 million contract extension. On September 25, 2012, it was announced that Hedman signed a contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the remainder of the 2012–13 NHL lockout
Read more about this topic: Victor Hedman
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