Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman stepped away from the team in mid-March last season and didn’t suit up the rest of the way for them. Speaking with NHL.com’s Dan Rosen earlier this week, the blueliner discussed his leave, calling it necessary from both a mental and physical standpoint. However, he is now fully past that and will be a full go for training camp on the back of a great summer. The 35-year-old was limited to just 33 games last season between injuries and his leave, though he still managed to pick up 17 points in those outings. Hedman could have a new defense partner this season with Tampa Bay’s prominent acquisition this summer being veteran blueliner John Carlson, who inked a two-year deal early in free agency. Carlson can still log heavy minutes, giving the Lightning a chance to not lean as hard on their captain out of the gate given how long it has been since Hedman last played.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
On top of overhauling his player roster, new Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has overhauled his front office as well. Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star provides an overview of the changes there, noting that 35 of 130 people on the staff directory last season are now gone, with most of those being Chayka setting his stamp on the team. The article also examines the new pecking order at the top of Toronto’s front office, one that features several newcomers in prominent roles beyond Chayka himself.
Bruins center Fraser Minten is in the final year of his entry-level deal, making him eligible to sign a contract extension. He told Jim McBride of The Boston Globe that the idea of a long-term deal is on his mind and that it would be “super appealing” to get an extension done. The 22-year-old had 17 goals and 18 assists in 82 games last season while at times moving up to anchor the top line. Minten appears to be a long-term cog for Boston so it wouldn’t be shocking to see GM Don Sweeney take a run at getting something done with him in the coming weeks if talks aren’t already underway.