Sample size is everything, except when it comes to sour grapes. Anyone who cares about the Edmonton Oilers agrees that Zach Hyman whose scored an impressive 36 points in 39 games would have been an excellent addition to the Team Canada lineup in the 2026 Olympic Games. Game one is in the books, and Canada cruised to an easy victory against Czechia. Their European foes were simply outclassed. It shouldn't surprise, because while Czechia's roster reads like an NHL lineup, Canada's reads like an All-star game.
Plenty of roster decisions were questioned, but the one that hurt Oiler fans the most was the omission of Hyman. As "heart and soul" a player as there is, Hyman's impact was felt throughout last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it was only rivalled by the hole created by his absence after being injured against the Dallas Stars.
Wilson brings toughness to Team Canada
Tom Wilson is having a really good season with the Washington Capitals scoring 23 goals and 26 assists for 49Pts in 50 games played. His addition to the roster is surely tied to this moment from the 4 Nations Faceoff:
The Tkachuk brothers decided to retaliate first in that game, and while the Canadian side did just fine, Wilson's inclusion might have Matthew and his little brother Sloth Fratelli thinking twice, or at least regretting their actions after the fact. The selection of Wilson is justified.
But now that a single game is in the books, we get to ask the question, "How much better would Hyman have done?" Connor McDavid delivered in his Olympic debut with three assists. Macklin Celebrini scored a goal off a feed from 97. Tom Wilson registered only one shot.
Statistics
In 39 games together (705 minutes of Time on Ice), McDavid/Hyman has generated 75 goals for, and more than 260 High Danger Shot For (HDSF). Breaking these numbers down to a per game average:
Time on ice per game: 18 minutes, Goals per game: 1.92 (we'll give Mcdavid 60% of those) = 0.75 goals per game for Hyman.
1. Time on ice per game
18 minutes
2. Goals per game
1.92 (We'll attribute a decent percentage of those to McDavid) and so for fairness we can include an actual here: (Hyman: 22 goals in 39 games played = 0.56 goals per game).
3. High Danger Chances
6.5 high danger chances per game.
Who makes who better?
Now most people are going to see that last statistic and think, "Obviously McDavid is driving High Danger Chances no matter who his linemates are. But this season, he's played almost an equal number of minutes away from Hyman (705 with vs. 634 without), and his HDCF is almost double when Hyman is his winger (267 vs. 148). Hyman makes McDavid better.
The problem for Hockey Canada every time the Olympics roll around is there are too many good players and not enough roster spots. Wilson is a great player, Hyman as well. Wilson brings certain unique aspects to the ice, Hyman does as well. One has more goals in fewer games (Hyman), the other has a higher points per game average. What remains to be seen is Wilson's specific chemistry with the game's best player. That could be the difference between a win and a loss in a single elimination tournament.
And we already have that answer when it comes to Hyman.