Victor Hedman passes Martin St. Louis to become Lightning’s all-time assists leader

Victor Hedman has reached the top of the list.

In registering an assist on Jake Guentzel’s third-period goal versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, longtime Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman recorded his 17th helper of the season. The feat also marked the 589th assist of Hedman’s career, an accomplishment that saw him move into first place all-time for assists by a Lightning skater. Hedman later added one more assist on the night, picking up a secondary helper on Cam Atkinson’s late third-period goal.

Top spot on the Lightning’s all-time assists list was previously held by former captain and 2004 Stanley Cup champion Martin St. Louis. In all, St. Louis recorded 588 assists through part of 13 seasons with the Lightning counting 972 career contests. Earlier this season, Hedman also surpassed former teammate Steven Stamkos, who registered 582 assists through 16 seasons with the Lightning totaling 1,082 career appearances.

For Hedman, the 33-year-old Swedish rearguard has had a terrific start to the 2024-25 campaign, where through 23 contests he has registered four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. Hedman finished last season with 76 points coming in 78 games, his second-most productive season following his 85-point performance through 82 games in 2021-22.

In becoming the Lightning’s all-time assists leader, the feat is only the latest accomplishment for Hedman whose list of accolades includes back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, with the former underscored by Conn Smythe Trophy recognition as playoff MVP after he recorded 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 25 postseason appearances. Hedman’s trophy case also counts a Norris Trophy win in 2017-18, a season in which he posted 63 points in 77 games alongside a dominant plus-32 rating to be named the NHL’s Defenseman of the Year.

The second-overall selection from the 2009 NHL Draft, Hedman has spent his entire career with the Lightning, counting 16 seasons in which he has made 1,075 appearances and recorded 160 goals with 590 assists for 750 career points.