Victor Hedman: "It would be great to play here"

With the draft 10 days away (June 26-27 in Montreal) the focus in the Tampa Bay area will be on Victor Hedman. The 6-foot-6 defenseman is believed by some to be the top player in the draft, and a player the Lightning would like to draft with the No. 2 overall selection. There has been some speculation the Islanders, with the top pick, might go for Hedman, but most still seem to believe their sights are set on sharpshooter John Tavares.

Both players, along with Matt Duchene, the draft's other top prospect, were in Tampa earlier this month and got a quick first look at the area and St. Pete Times Forum. We'll check in with all three this week, starting with Hedman:

Is the Lightning the ideal situation for you?

"I know a couple of Swedes who've been here, and I've had the opportunity to talk to the goalkeeper, Johan Holmqvist, and he really liked it here. He had good things to say about Tampa as a town and a hockey club. ... It would be great to play here, but, obviously, it's not up to me. I'll go to whatever team picks me, but it would be great to be with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Ever since a couple of years ago, I've been looking forward to come to visit Tampa and visit Florida, just to see how beautiful it is. From what I've seen right now, it's a beautiful city and a real nice rink. I went to Long Island as well, and it wasn't what I expected. It was much nicer than what I thought. I really liked it there, too. I think wherever I go, I'm going to be fine."

Have you picture yourself in a jersey yet?

"That's a tough question. I want to be an NHL player next year. But it's hard to imagine which jersey I'm going to put on. Obviously, I'm closer to finding out now, so I'm really looking forward to the draft and seeing which team I'm going to."

How are you handling the expectations of being a high pick?

"That's a big challenge and I'm really looking forward to that. It's up to me to show them I'm good enough to play in the NHL. I see it as a challenge, and I have big expectations on myself to play at the highest level every game, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and I hope not to disappoint the fans of the team I go to."

On fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom:

"He's a great leader on the ice, and I can't imagine how good he is in the locker room. Just to see how calm he is with the puck and how he handles situations. He knows where to put the puck before he has it, and he's got a god two-way game. And he's very good on the power play and can really kill penalties and play a lot of minutes. Just an all-around game and his leadership. He's very big in what I'm trying to type my game after."

To whom do you compare yourself?

"In style of play, maybe a Jay Bouwmeester. He's a very good two-way player. Like I said before, Nicklas has had a big impact on my hockey career so far, and I like to take things from him and put them in my game. But he's one of the greatest players so far, greatest defenseman of all time. I try to compare him, but it's hard. He's a very good player. I really try to look up to him and take things from him."

On transition to the NHL:

"I'm going to move to a different country but I really like it over here and I'm really looking forward to it, so I don't see it as a negative thing. I'm really looking forward to living in the states, or maybe in Canada. It's going to be fun, but obviously it's going to be a big adjustment. I'm just looking forward to it. I see everything on the positive side."

On making an immediate impact:

"That's the expectation I have on myself, to play in the NHL next year. I want the team to think the same way. That's the most important thing, that the team wants me to come over right away as well. That's one of the biggest things I want most... to come to a team that really believes in me and wants me to come over right away. The it doesn't matter if I go first or fifth or 20th.

On becoming a good offensive player:

"With the new rules, you have to be good on the skates. I've been working a lot on that. I like to be creative. I like to join the rush and be part of the play in the offensive zones. Obviously, I like to play a good two-way game."

Comments

[olin]

...Like I've always said in the past,
Swedes and Finn's for D and Goal(big rink's over there)
Canadian's for the offensive machine...
GO BOLT's

[olin]

....time for me to chip something in. Johnny O would love to come to tampa,he has told me several times... He like's getting Sportbladet's, never got any anywhere else in the NHL, he'd be a #4, I would love to see big Mattias come over from O-vik to play with his partner Victor, then bring Honken back year after next,(already signed w/Frolunda along with Victor's big bro(little'r, also Frolunda)) Oscar to have a Hedman&Hedman D pair....Get these guy's and maybe the other Mattias O from Canuck's(FA)would like to play here, Enstrom....????? the Sedin's??? Man am I dreaming..?????????? Stora Valkommen til Tampa

[Boltflasher]

I like Oduya alot but he's likely to reamain in NJ. Don't be surprised to see Timander come here if they get Hedman...

[Don in St. Pete]

Joe, I like Oduya and he's probably the only UFA defenseman we could afford. While he's probably not a legitimate top 2 D, he's been playing top 2 minutes in Jersey. He has an offensive upside and is good in his own end. It would probably take 3 years at $2.5 mile per to sign him, but I expect NJ to try to retain him.

[PD]

Patrick that's exactly right on about Jaybo at 18 or 19 or 20 or 21...takes a long time for a Dman.
You will have to excuse Lawton if he does some trading..he doesn't have a long time nor do the Bolts.

[Joe]

Ive been researching what free agent defenseman would be realistic for the bolts to sign.Ive come up with one.

John Oduya from the Devils.
-27 years old
-from Sweeden
-TSN rated him at a 75 on their web site and described him as underated
-Salary was only 600k.
-Played in all 82 games
-I remember him watching bolts/devils seemed pretty quick.

He is UFA. What you guys think?

[Don in St. Pete]

I'm all for giving Vrbata another shot. He scored 27 goals for Phoenix the year before last. I think part of his weak performance to open the season may be linked to having Melrose as the coach. There was no system and no structure. Stamkos and Malone also started off very slowly. I hadn't heard the Ramo rumour yet but it could complicate matters for Lawton.

[Joe]

Max,

I dont believe we are paying Vrbata unless he comes back to play in the NHL because he was allowed to sign in a pro league overseas.

Havent heard the Ramo rumor but maybe they throwing some money at him.

[hyjyljyj]

Max--being in the camp that says Ryan Malone is precisely the kind of player you're trying to get MORE of,...IMHO if ever there were a trade-bait player whose ridiculous fat contract you can't wait to dump, his name would have to be Radim Vrbata. I was stoked when they picked him last summer, and then he pulled what we all saw. That this guy got paid three million dollars for the vanishing act he did last season is an international disgrace, again IMHO. That 3M could buy a young top-4 D.

[hyjyljyj]

Somebody that knows, please clarify this Gretzky record that Tavares broke. Is there any asterisk by that, such as Gretzky playing only half the season or on a broken leg, or was this kid straight-up better at 16 than Gretz was?

(An incredulous hockey public needs to know)

Thankx for the scouting reports on Hedman and Tavares. It's that needle-threading ability in traffic to place perfectly timed pinpoint passes on the tape that just makes me dizzy and violently ill. But only in a good way. It's like watching a magician, only here you know it's no illusion. What you just saw the guy actually DID--while other people were whacking him with sticks no less, which most magicians don't have to fight through. It just never stops being amazing.

Man. Even setting aside having seen them on video, based only on those two paragraphs I $#%&ing cannot WAIT to watch these young players in action in the national league. Is it October yet?

[Boltflasher]

ESPN Rumour: Ramo to KHL?

[Max Hunter]

Just out of curiosity, what does everyone think about bringing back Vrbata? I personally don't think Vrbata was THAT bad (I think he may have had an ego problem.) However, if Hedman was acquired, and Vrbata was in shape, what about seeing if he'd work again. After all, we are paying him regardless.

Max

[Patrick]

Flasher,

Thanks for the detailed information. Everything I read about Tavares is how gifted he is offensively. Don't hear much about how he plays in his end. Sounds kinda like Pavel Bure at center. Stamkos even at 19 looked to me like he's going to be a very solid 2-way center, although I'm sure Tavares will do better offensively.

It sounds like there are two incredible blue chip players in the draft. Given the choice between the two, I'd take Hedman, because we need defensemen much more than a center and a #1 defensemen is more important than a #1 center. You build from the net out, right? Reading about how good his decision making is and how he gets the puck out of his end sounds like a Godsend after this year's futility is our end. Hopefully we won't have a choice and we'll just be "stuck" with Hedman. Man... this is going to be a long 10 days.

[Don in St. Pete]

Mike, I agree on the RFA front. I have one main target in mind and that is Matt Smaby. I can't understand why they haven't signed him yet. With Krajicek, Lundin and Karsums I feel there's no rush, but why wait on Matt Smaby who I feel sure will get an offer tendered if he's not in the fold by July 1st. Then you have to match or lose a guy who could be a top two for a second round draft pick. It makes no sense to me unless they are worried about signing bonuses.

[Mike13]

Sounds good to me. I like that he talked to Holmer, who had good things to say. I miss Holmqvist and believe that he would be a great backup to Smitty. The guy was fantastic (especially during the shoot out). He just wasn't consistent enough to be a full time starter.

In any case, I'm looking forward to watching the NHL Awards show tomorrow night (7:30 on Vs) and the NHL Entry Draft on the 26th.

Also looking forward to some RFA re-signing news....ahem...

[Boltflasher]

If the Isles do pick Hedman, here's a review on Tavares:
"Over the past four years no player has been under such scrutiny as John Tavares, and for the most part unfairly. He has been nitpicked by scouts and pundits to the point of silliness, but unfortunately that is the nature of the business. Sometimes people forget this is the kid that broke Wayne Gretzky's scoring record with 72 goals as a 16-year old back in 2006-2007. Over his time in the OHL, he has posted 215 goals and 218 assists in 247 games in the regular season. His postseason numbers are just as impressive with 56 points in 38 games facing the top defensive pairing and match-ups every time he touches the ice.

His hockey sense is at the NHL elite level and Tavares processes information two or three steps ahead of most of his peer group. You will be hard-pressed to find another forward more dangerous inside the offensive zone and he can score goals almost at will. His skill to thread the needle even through traffic is uncanny. He can dictate the tempo of the play because of his puck poise and capacity to make the right decision in a microsecond. Regardless of which shot he chooses, Tavares releases the puck instantly and has pinpoint accuracy. The one main concern about his game was his skating, which has improved due to effort in the offseason. Now he will never be known for his speed, but Tavares now has better two-step quickness to create some separation that he will need at the NHL level. He is strong on the puck and does not lose too many puck battles, but since he excels around the net he must continue to get stronger. To his credit, Tavares will take punishment to make play and shows enough moxie. Away from the puck he is improving in most aspects but it is an area Tavares will have concentrate on seriously to handle the next step. His ability to take the game into his own hands and raise his game in the clutch is a rare commodity. He has the offensive skill to play in the NHL, but how quickly he adjusts to the physical demands and defensive responsibilities that will determine his early success."

Now about Hedman: " The towering defenceman has the hockey sense and skating ability to dominate every time he steps on the ice. If you can ignore the obvious when it comes to his size and skating, you'll appreciate how quickly he deciphers the developing play and makes smart decisions. It is the fact he can look up ice and either makes a pinpoint laser outlet pass or lead the rush like a forward that truly sets him apart. He is a good overall skater and will only get better once he adds some extra power to his core and lower body. His puck skills are top-notch and he creates time and space with his stickhandling ability before making a quick pass or unleashing a heavy shot. He will contribute immediately on offence, especially on the power play where Hedman is at his most dangerous. Away from the puck, Hedman is good at controlling the gaps and taking away time with the angles he takes. His wingspan is a tremendous asset and he uses his stick well to sweep pucks out of the passing lanes. Hedman is not afraid to block shots or mix it up physically, shown by his performance in the WJC gold medal game. His preference is to play a smart, intelligent game, but if you get him relied up he will smash you in the mouth. Now he may not be as skilled as Nick Lidstrom or as nasty as Chris Pronger, but in the end he might be somewhere in between."

For more: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=281920

[Joe]

This is the guy the bolts need!!! Seems to have a great attitude.

I dont think theres much chance the Islanders dont draft Tavarres. They need a ticket seller, and he probably is more so then Hedman.

To me its a great off season if we keep Vinny4 and draft Hedman. Lets see if OK Hockey has learned from its first year!

Go Bolts!

[RealBoltsFans.com]

Bolts are desperate for D, Please let the Hockey Gods bring him here after Boyler got stiffed. Holmer had good things to say about Tampa as a town and a hockey club but did he mention how the club never gave him a chance to mature as a Goalie and about the Bandwagon Fans as a whole in the area?

[Casper]

I agree with the loose comparison of Victor to Jay Bouwmeester. The development of Big Bouw was aided tremendously by, ahem, a former Islander Hall of Famer currently looking for work.

Go Bolts!

[Patrick]

I like that he compared himself to Bouwmeester instead of Lidstrom. Some people have posted that Hedman isn't physical for his size at 6'6 or whatever he is. But neither is Bouwmeester and that's not going to stop teams from throwing 6-7 mil at him this offseason. You don't have to hit like Kronwall to be good defensively, like Lidstrom. I agree he sounds mature as well. But 18 at defense in this league... as much as I want to see him in a lightning uniform, I hope we don't rush him with too big a role too early. Even Bouwmeester wasn't too impressive in his first few years in the league.

[gus georgiou]

Yes, he would be a great addition to our defensive team and one of our great needs. I pray that if Lawton does trade this pick, he better get some great players in return and not have Lightning fans scratching their heads deciding if it was a good deal or not. It is about time for Tampa fans to start saying we got the best deal if any trades are made during the draft or before the season starts. His track record in the past really scares me!!!!!!!

[RICK L]

yes indeed he will look good in a lightning uniform!

[Eric]

Looking forward to watching this kid play next year. I like him more than Tavares or Duchene.

[Don in St. Pete]

You've got to believe big Vic would fit in perfectly here. The positive outlook and high expectations of himself seem very mature for an 18 year old. I sincerely hope he's there and #2 and the controversy ends.