Zach Hyman is walking into the season with more riding on it than just goals and assists.
The Edmonton Oilers made their boldest move of the summer by hiring Mike Babcock, and Hyman was the player most clearly tied to that decision. The veteran winger didn’t just approve of the idea - he pushed it. According to the reporting, Hyman reportedly brought the coaching change to the team’s leadership group, and his support helped open the door for Babcock to land the job.
That makes this a high-wire season for Hyman. If the move pays off, he’ll look sharp for backing it. If it doesn’t, the blame could land on him just as quickly.
Hyman made his case publicly at his annual charity golf tournament at the end of July, saying, “I obviously had a very good experience with Mike in Toronto," Hyman said at his annual charity golf tournament at the end of July. "He did a great job with a lot of the young players that were there.
All of us have had pretty long careers and are still playing. He set the foundation for us.
I think he's a phenomenal coach; I think extremely highly of him."
That belief clearly carried weight inside the organization. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl also sat down with Babcock to hear him out, and after those conversations, Edmonton moved forward with the hire.
But Hyman’s pressure doesn’t stop there.
At 34, he’s dealing with the natural pull of age, and health has become part of the conversation. Last season, he finished with 52 points in 58 games.
The year before, he played 73. Edmonton needs more availability than that, especially with no extra winger added over the summer and Hyman still positioned as a major piece of the offense.
The challenge is simple: stay on the ice, keep producing, and justify the faith he showed in a coach plenty of people didn’t want back. Hyman has been excellent since arriving in Edmonton, but this season asks something different of him. It asks him to prove he’s still got plenty left while helping make a polarizing gamble work.
The early projection has him at 38 goals and 70 points in 80 games.
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