The Edmonton Oilers got an injury update on Zach Hyman before the questions even started at morning skate, and the news may be a little better than it first looked.
Head coach Mike Babcock said Hyman is out with a “stiff neck,” after the forward was placed on injured reserve. The injury came in Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, when Hyman left after taking a hit along the boards from Andreas Englund. He had to be helped off the ice and never returned.
At first glance, it looked like it could have been a concussion issue after Hyman banged the back of his head on the glass. He held his visor and went down slowly after absorbing the hit, which immediately raised concern that the absence might stretch beyond a week. For an Oilers team already dealing with a rash of injuries, that was the last thing they needed.
Babcock said after the game that he did not like how it looked, adding: “I didn’t like to see Hym’s go,”We’re hoping to get guys back, not losing more guys. That affected our lineup a bit.”
The move to injured reserve does create a path for Jason Dickinson. With Hyman on IR, a roster spot opens up for Dickinson to be activated, and he is expected to return tonight if he is cleared. He would likely slide back into the lineup when Edmonton hosts Calgary in the Battle of Alberta.
It’s a significant absence either way for Edmonton. The Oilers have seen their game come back down to earth after a fast start, while Calgary enters on the heels of a dominant win. Edmonton will be looking to steady itself, and the lineup should get a little help if Dickinson is indeed good to go.
In Other News...
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Edvinssons situation carries the more urgent deadline, which is why it sits ahead of any serious conversation about Larkins future. Detroit can trade Larkin whenever it chooses, but moving a captain-level center is not something the front office will rush into while another core piece remains unresolved. For now, the priority is locking in the young blue-liner and getting that part of the ledger settled before anything else gets seriously revisited. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Update Just Raised Detroit's Biggest Trade Question
Dylan Larkin was away from Red Wings practice for a maintenance day, which is the kind of update that usually doesn't merit much more than a note in the morning report. In this case, though, it lands in the middle of a larger swirl around Detroit's captain and the possibility that his situation could shape the team's next move more than anything else on the roster.
The timing matters because the trade chatter around Larkin has not gone away, even as the Red Wings try to keep their attention on the season in front of them. Around the league, the Oilers are dealing with Zach Hyman landing on injured reserve after a stiff neck suffered in a game against Detroit, while the Penguins are also looking at veteran trade possibilities as they consider a roster restructuring. For the Red Wings, though, the bigger question remains what Larkin's status means for their long-term direction. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Face Growing Pressure Around Simon Edvinssons Future
Simon Edvinssons contract status is quickly becoming one of the more important side stories around Detroit as the calendar turns toward the deadline for restricted free agents. The young defenseman has drawn interest from other teams, which is the kind of attention the Red Wings would rather not have lingering this late in the process, especially with the organization trying to keep a key part of its blue line in place for the long term.
The concern is not just about the player himself, but about how much leverage outside suitors can create if the market starts to tighten. Detroit knows what it has in Edvinsson, and the challenge now is getting the business side settled before the situation turns into a larger distraction, with the clock slowly working against the Red Wings as they try to avoid a more complicated endgame. [Read more 🡒]