Tampa Bay Defenseman Victor Hedman is Big Enough for the Moment

John Tavares's task was simple: find the back of the net, as he had 305 times previously in his seven NHL seasons. The only caveat being that Tavares—the six-foot-one, 25-year-old New York Islanders center— had less than a minute remaining in regulation to even the score. Nineteen minutes and six seconds into the third period of a first-round Game 6 against the Florida Panthers, Tavares did just that and kept the Islanders alive. Much later that night, Tavares scored again, in double overtime, to catapult the Islanders to the second round for the first time since 1993.

"Expectations are high," Tavares said after the game. "We want to keep this thing going. It wasn't just about getting past the first round. Big step in a lot of ways, but we have a real big challenge in Tampa."

That challenge has a good five inches on Tavares but has not yet nearly the same. Last season's playoffs were only Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman's coming-out party; this series could be what cements him as one of the NHL's elite defenseman.

In a series that is seemingly light on star power with Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos out with a blood clot, the cameras will inevitably turn to Tavares to determine the narrative. Don't be surprised if Hedman, the man drafted seconnd overall, one spot after Tavares, in the 2009 Entry Draft, crowds him out of the frame.

Islanders–Lightning isn't as sexy as the other Eastern Conference semi-final, the one with the Ovechkin–Crosby matchup that has NHL broadcasters both salivating and sighing in relief. But in a league whose reliance on its stars to sell the game is increasing every season, more exposure for Hedman could also be a huge boon for Gary Bettman & Co.

This fall, the NHL will continue to do their damnedest to push the league-sanctioned World Cup of Hockey as a legitimate best-on-best event, where Sweden offers the best shot at upsetting the host Canadians. But their stars are nowhere to be found in the playoffs now: household names like Lundqvist, Karlsson, Zetterberg, and the Sedin twins have been eliminated. Which leaves the towering Hedman eligible for the spotlight.

You would think it would be hard to miss Hedman, given his size and the fact that he spends so much time on the ice. His average time of 27:01 on ice leads the Lightning and is sixth in the NHL playoffs amongst active players. However, he finished 16th in the regular season in points amongst defensemen. The last six Norris Trophy winners finished either first or second in defensemen scoring and it's become clear that simplistic point totals sway the voting. (Ask Drew Doughty.)

But of defensemen who logged 1,000 minutes this season, Hedman finished fourth in even-strength points per 60 minutes (1.27) and sixth in Corsi For % (56.71%). He was one of just two defensemen to finish in the top 10 in each of those categories.

Hedman is not just a power play specialist who uses the man advantage to pad his stats. Fitting, considering the Islanders are one of the least penalized teams these playoffs. He can drive possession and contribute offensively in a big way.

"He's our horse back there," Lightning Coach Jon Cooper said of Hedman during the Red Wings series.

What does this mean for the Islanders? Well, they're a team that barely held on for large stretches against the Florida Panthers, having led just twice in regulation through the six-game series. They're not known as a team that possesses the puck and drives play, as evidenced by their 49.5% even-strength Corsi For this regular season, good for 18th in the league and last among teams still alive in the playoffs. While some have called their defense underrated, they were exposed against the Panthers, and were susceptible to speedy counterattacks, which is exactly the type of offense that Hedman can quarterback.

He may not have garnered wide-scale attention as an elite defenseman just yet, but his ability to drive Tampa Bay's offense has impressed some of his notable forefathers, including seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom.

"When he brings the puck up the ice, it's fun to watch," said Lidstrom in February. Impressive praise from one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game.

It's fun to start imagining Hedman evolving into a player of Lidstrom's caliber—but also unfair.

Hedman doesn't have to be Lidstrom, though. He has already done everything right to be Hedman. The hockey world can sometimes get carried away with mythologizing the NHL's postseason, referring to it as a war. Hedman has already proven that he isn't fazed by the pressure.

"I don't think I knew the word pressure growing up," Hedman said during last year's playoffs. He comes from the small town of Örnsköldsvik, (population 28,000) the birthplace of Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, and the aforementioned Sedins. "It was just about looking up to those guys and trying to have fun all the time. You know, I never had any pressure from home, my mom and dad never pushed me to do that. Just follow your dreams, and do what you want, pretty much."

When Hedman met Tavares before the 2009 draft in Montreal, his lack of guile was evident.

"He's a great guy and you could tell he was used to everything that was going on," Hedman said of Tavares. "I was kind of new to it."

Tavares and Hedman will forever be linked. Hedman first gained national attention last season as part of a very talented Lightning team. Now, with Stamkos and Hedman's defense partner Anton Stralman injured, he will have the opportunity to shut down the headline-grabbing Tavares, claim the series spotlight away from him, and step into it all alone.

Stats via War on Ice.