Lightning pick Hedman

From NHL.com

Lightning pick Hedman No. 2
Friday, 06.26.2009 / 7:40 PM / NHL Entry Draft
NHL.com

The Tampa Bay Lightning selected 6-foot-6 Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman with the second pick in the NHL Entry Draft.

Lightning GM Brian Lawton announced the selection of Hedman, the top-ranked European player by NHL Central Scouting The Lightning's selection followed the New York Islanders' choice of John Tavares with the No. 1 pick.

Hedman gives the Lightning a potential stalwart on defense who also possesses significant offensive skill. Playing for Modo of the Swedish Elite League the past two seasons, he put up 9 goals and 25 points with a plus-23 in 82 games.

Tampa Bay had the top pick in the 2008 Draft and selected center Steven Stamkos, who registered 23 goals and 46 points in his first season in the League. Hedman is considered by many to be the most NHL-ready of the players in this year's Draft and also figures to step into the lineup immediately.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Hedman said. "Obviously the team struggled a little bit last year. I'm really looking forward to helping the team next year and I'm more than happy to be on the Tampa Bay Lightning squad."

Now all they need to do is find money to retain their star player and they could be sitting pretty with a stud defenseman.