Hedman Continues To Define His Play

from Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, Hedman has the tools to be a dominant defenseman ? size, speed, vision, long reach and he will only continue to add more strength to his 230-pound frame. And though he many never blossom into prototypical No. 1 defenseman that logs 30 minutes a night in every conceivable situation, he is already light years ahead of the learning curve for understanding what its going to take to be a top notch defenseman.

?He is still so young and you look at a guy like that playing defense in this league, it?s awfully hard, he?s so much further ahead than I thought he would be a few years ago,?? defenseman Mattias Ohlund said. ?I think mentally for being 20 years old he is very strong . . . If you have a bad game you have to let it go, if you have a good game you have to let it go, he?s just really so much further ahead than I was at that age as far as making a mistake and moving on.??

Entering his third training camp since being selected behind only John Tavares in the 2009 draft, Hedman has learned to deal with the expectations that come with being a high profile draft pick and channeling that potential into what kind of a player he is rather than what others want him to be.

more

Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/hedman_continues_to_define_his_play/

Mark Fraser Andy Greene zach Parise bryce Salvador Wade Belak Martin Erat