TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Longtime Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has been named the team’s new captain.

Hedman, 33, will be the club’s 11th team captain. He was the obvious choice to wear the “C” after the Lightning parted ways with Steven Stamkos, who held the honor for the Lightning the past decade.

“We are thrilled to have Victor leading our team as the 11th captain in franchise history,” GM Julien BriseBois said Wednesday. “Victor is a cornerstone player that is extremely well respected by his teammates, coaches and peers across the NHL. Over the past 15 seasons, he has been a world-class representative for our organization both on and off the ice.

“Victor embodies what it means to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and is more than ready for this exciting opportunity. We are looking forward to watching him flourish in his new role as we continue to work towards our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

For Hedman, now the team’s longest-tenured player entering his 16th NHL season, the new title is likely bittersweet. Stamkos and Hedman played 15 seasons together and were the standard bearers for Tampa Bay teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and went to three straight Cup finals.

“To get that ‘C’ on the jersey is a big privilege and a big responsibility,” Hedman said. ”But I’ve learned from a lot of great leaders, my good friend in Stammer, that’s been my captain for the last 11 years. ... I’m not going to change the way I am and the way I approach my game. ... But to do it for the team that I played with for 15 years, this means the world to me.”

The two grew from much-hyped teenagers to future Hall of Famers, separately earning the reputation of being extraordinary leaders both on and off the ice. They dreamed of ending their career together as lifelong Lightning players. Hedman will have that opportunity, signing a four-year extension in July that will keep him in Tampa Bay through the 2028-29 season, while the team had an acrimonious and surprising split with Stamkos, who signed with Nashville in the offseason.

Hedman has been an alternate captain since the 2018-19 season.

This is the first time the Lightning captaincy has switched since 2014, when Stamkos was named captain upon returning from injury following the team’s trade of Marty St. Louis to the Rangers.

Nikita Kucherov and Ryan McDonagh will serve as the team’s alternate captains, the team announced.

Previous Lightning captains

Steven Stamkos 2013-14 to 2023-24

Marty St. Louis 2013-14

Vinny Lecavalier 2008-09 to 2012-13

Tim Taylor 2006-07 to 2007-08

Dave Andreychuk 2002-03 to 2005-06

Vinny Lecavalier 1999-00 to 2000-01

Chris Gratton 1999-00

Bill Houlder 1999-00

Rob Zamuner 1998-99

Mikael Renberg 1997-98

Paul Ysebaert 1995-96 to 1997-98

None 1992-93-1994-95

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