By Liam Casey
Victor Hedman really isn't like other blue-chip defensive prospects. He's better. Way Better. I thought Hedman would be similar to LA's Drew Doughty. Both were taken with the second overall pick and made their respective squads a few months after being drafted. Doughty played a ton in his first season, leading the entire team in minutes played. He was also on the ice in every situation, from first unit power-play to penalty kill. By all accounts, he was one of the Kings' best players. He had plenty of offensive skill, but that only translated into six goals and 27 points in his first year, which was the highest total in the NHL for rookie defenders.
Hedman, it reasoned, would end up with similar numbers, especially if the Lightning brought him along slowly in the first half of the season as they did with Steven Stamkos last year.

Although it's early one, Hedman is proving to be different than Doughty and other first year defensemen. The proof is in the four assists, +2 rating and eight penalty minutes he's put up in five games. It's obviously too early to say whether he can keep this play up, but he's made a much smoother transition to the NHL than even the Lightning thought. Coach Rick Tocchet said he'd bring Hedman along slowly, as he did with Stamkos, but that plan has been burned. Hedman is averaging 25:40 per game. And he's only 18!