Coming into this offseason, nobody expected the Edmonton Oilers to be where they are today.
Adam Larsson, Caleb Jones, and Ethan Bear are gone, Tyson Barrie was re-signed, Duncan Keith was brought in, many moves were made. But, maybe the most impactful move was bringing in Zach Hyman for the Edmonton Oilers.
The 29-year-old winger put up an impressive 33 points in 43 games last season with the Maple Leafs, and it earned him a hefty, and lengthy contract with the Oilers, but was it the right move long term? Personally, I say no.
Hyman is coming off a decent year in Toronto, and short term, he is definitely someone that will make the top 6 group in Edmonton better. His grit, playmaking, and ability to finish off plays are impressive in itself. Hyman’s willingness to play in Edmonton is something I’m also intrigued by, the fact he chose Edmonton, even over Toronto, the team that gave him a true chance in the NHL, is something I truly respect. With that being said, I have my doubts.
Hyman is beneficial to Edmonton in a lot of ways right now, I believe he will help lead the team to a playoff spot next season, but the team around him isn’t strong enough to compete for a Stanley Cup. By the time the Oilers have built their strongest roster in years, and have the squad to be a favorite for the championship, Hyman will likely be running bottom 6 minutes, and it will be another contract that Edmonton fans begin to regret being excited about.
I personally, like Zach Hyman. The contract just scares me, the fact we’re taking a seven-year risk on a guy who’s already 29, is something I’m not entirely comfortable with. He’ll be 36 by the time his contract with the team is up, and we’ll see then if I was completely wrong, but for now, I have my doubts.