Standards 'always going to be high

Hedman says Lightning must step up as leaders in post-Stamkos era

- JOSHUA CLIPPERTON

LAS VEGAS Victor Hedman has had some time to digest a seismic summer for the Tampa Bay Lightning. That doesn’t make seeing his former teammate — a friend he sat beside on the plane and shared road meals with for 15 NHL seasons — sporting yellow threads any less strange.

Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators as an unrestricted free agent July 1 after the now-former Lightning captain was unable to agree on a deal with the club that drafted him No. 1 in 2008. Although the 34-year-old’s divorce from the organization eventually seemed inevitable, his departure was still jarring for Hedman once made official.

“We’re going to miss the player Steven Stamkos,” the big defenceman said at this week’s NHL/ NHLPA player media tour.

“But me personally, obviously, more as a friend … going to be a big change.”