Zach Hyman poised to replicate last year’s success with the Edmonton Oilers

Zachary Martin Hyman has been a delightful aberration for the Edmonton Oilers. Signed during the 2021–22 offseason to a seven-year by $38.5M, $5.5M AAV, he has proven to be worth every dollar and has become one of the best bargain contracts in the NHL.

Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (123rd overall), his success has continued to build throughout his career, culminating in becoming a 50-goal scorer for the first time. Not to outshine his on-ice accomplishments, but he is also a published children’s author, delivering best-selling children’s books alongside an already stellar career.

Playing alongside Connor McDavid can be beneficial to a player’s career but is never a true certainty, alas the revolving door includes Ty Rattie, Patrick Maroon, Milan Lucic, Dominik Kahun, Jordan Eberle, etc., etc. It was not until a dynamic player like Hyman was stapled to his wing that this position sustained success, allowing Edmonton to separately deploy Leon Draisaitl and McDavid, building one of the best one-two punches down the middle of a forward core in the NHL.

International play

Hyman’s international play is minimal. He was named the 2013 Canadian Junior Hockey Player of the Year and in that same year, won a gold medal for Israel at the Maccabiah Games. Although not necessarily international play, Hyman was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for top college hockey player in 2014–15.

Due to his success on McDavid’s wing, there has been wide speculation that Hyman may receive the “Chris Kunitz” experience and represent Canada on the Olympic Stage in 2026 or next season’s inaugural Four Nations Cup. Due to his strong two-way play and propensity to tuck in McDavid’s rebounds, the selection committee has linked the duo to continue to sustain that chemistry by wearing the national colors instead of the Copper and Blue.

Career statistics

An exponential growth curve since joining Edmonton is an easy representation of the success Hyman has sustained since inking his long-term contract. In total, Hyman has 399 points throughout his career, with 214 of them being totaled since joining the Oilers.

Although not necessarily attributable to his success, Hyman’s counting stats have naturally increased since being placed on McDavid’s wing. Not only has he hit the 200-shot mark three seasons in a row, but he has continually hit 25 goals per season in that same period. Of course, the past season was his best, netting a career-best 54 goals, with 39 of them coming at even strength, and another 16 coming during the postseason. Interestingly, the past season was not his best point total, with a personal best of 83, totaled during the 2022–23 season, thanks to a noteworthy 47 assists.

Player profile

Hyman’s player profile works into a high-floor complimentary player. Though he does not possess a natural goal-scoring ability, he possesses a soft touch with the puck where he can sustain the volume to play on a top line. His work ethic is unmatched and he holds a very strong two-way game; his combination of physicality and defensive conscience allows him to be paired with two offensively-minded forwards who can be deployed to their strengths while Hyman crashes the net and ferociously backchecks, hence the high takeaway volume.

Strengths

It is not easy to nitpick a gap in Hyman’s game and is every coach’s dream of a complimentary winger. Not necessarily a play driver, he succeeds in a support role, which is extremely important as he thrives along McDavid’s playmaking ability.

Due to his player profile of being a tenacious, hard-working forechecking winger, Hyman uses that to his advantage. Although not necessarily the biggest player, 6’1”, 205 lbs, Hyman’s drive, and grit allow him to create space in front of the opposing team’s net, thriving in the blue paint. This is especially apparent due to the quality of chances, namely the high-danger version, the greater the High-Danger Chance, the more likely the chance results in a goal.

At all strengths, Hyman has totaled 117 actual goals over three seasons, slightly underperforming his expected total of 124. In the past season, when he scored 54 goals, his expected metrics provided a value of 50 goals, indicating the past season was not a fluke. Arguments generally against Hyman call him a “power play merchant” but he still managed to score 39 goals at even strength, slightly above the expected value of 36. Part of his newfound success is due to his increased shot volume, where Hyman led the team and finished 10th in the NHL, with the vast majority of chances coming from within 15 feet of the net.

Hyman also strongly controls the underlying metrics, benefitting as such alongside McDavid. When present on the ice in 2023–24, Hyman’s line controls 60% of all shot attempts and 61% of the expected. Part of the reason for the success is the aforementioned High-Danger chances, as Hyman helps control 67%of all High-Danger chances and 69% of all High-Danger chance goals.

Weaknesses

There are a few minor issues that do become exposed with Hyman, and he at times is not at fault. For example, although he has sustained a great deal of success on the ice, his metrics could potentially be skewed by most of his shifts after a whistle beginning in the offensive zone, which naturally occurs as you want your top line deployed to positively contribute on the scoresheet. Secondly, he can become undisciplined in the heat of the game, as he recorded the third highest total among Oiler forwards.

Furthermore, and through no fault of his own, although he is 32 now, there are still four years remaining on his contract that can prove to become cumbersome if Hyman’s game catches up with his footspeed. Not the fleetest of foot, his drive carries him into all zones but over time will naturally begin to slow down. Additionally, his exposure to physicality may over time wear on his body with his continued net front presence leading to constant beatings from larger defenceman and goalies alike. In the past season, he logged the second most hits among Edmonton’s forward group, which over time, may lead to recurring injury issues such as Evander Kane sustained over the past season.

Organizational fit

Organizationally, Hyman has expressed his love for the city and the city adores him back. Not only does he embody the spirit of Edmonton, but his hard-working lifestyle leads to much love from his teammates.

For the foreseeable future, Hyman will find himself stapled alongside McDavid to his wing for at least the next two to three seasons if he continues to score at the same pace and continue the net front tenacity that has led to such success levels. Furthermore, although there is talent beginning to accumulate in the minors, the skill set of Hyman’s is hard to replicate, with Dylan Holloway likely the closest in case of an injury. Alongside an ever-increasing cap due to contract renewals for Evan Bouchard, Draisaitl, and McDavid, Hyman’s goal-scoring on his modest contract will only continue to increase his value over the last four years before contract expiration.

Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire