3 Edmonton Oilers bold predictions for February

2) Zach Hyman will move into the top 3 for goals scored

Zach Hyman has been nothing short of a revelation this season for the Oilers. As much as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the marquee stars, the Oilers aren't where they are in the standings without the production of their teammate.

It's funny to think back now to when Hyman joined the Oilers, after signing a seven-year, $38.5 million deal following the 2020-21 season. At the time considered an overpay by many, it's now looking like one of the bargains of the century.

Of course it helps when you get to line up alongside the game's best player and also interact with another whose in the top 10. However, even allowing for this, Hyman's production has been excellent and better than expected.

The Toronto native set single-season career-bests for goals in each of his first two season in Edmonton, at 27 and 36 respectively. Now, he's on course to not only set another new career-high, but blow his previous best out of the water.

Having played in all but one of the Oilers' 45 games to date, Hyman has already scored 30 goals, which would project to 55 at season's end if he remains healthy. He currently ranks first among all Oilers, seven ahead of Draisaitl and 10 ahead of McDavid.

As a result, this has the 31-year-old tied-sixth in the overall scoring charts, to further highlight how impressive his accomplishment is. Now we of course don't expect him to catch Auston Matthews, who leads the way with a ridiculous 40 goals thus far.

However, you can definitely see Hyman moving up the scoring charts during February, with him just three behind David Pastrnak who is currently in third place. Where it becomes bold, is giving the Oilers' winger a chance at catching Sam Reinhart, who is second with 37 goals.

For what it's worth though, consider that Reinhart has achieved his total in 49 games, compared to 44 by Hyman. Further, taking every potential positive you can, the Florida Panthers have 10 games during February, two less than the Oilers.

Overall, we have a lot of confidence in Hyman's chances of moving into third place in the goal scoring charts by the end of this month. However, if you're one of those folks who enjoys a bet where it's legal, you might want to put some money on him being in second place at the conclusion of February.